Stress protein Hsp12 provides a cellular survival mechanism never seen before
Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 15:14
in Biology & Nature
Despite clear evidence that Hsp12 - a so-called heat shock or stress protein - helps cells survive life-threatening conditions, how it works was an open question until now. The surprising answer is revealed in the Aug. 27 issue of Molecular Cell, where German researchers explain how they discovered the function of Hsp12, a protective mechanism unlike any previously observed. Unfolded within the cell's aqueous cytosol, Hsp12 folds into helical structures to stabilise the cell membrane...