Heat shock proteins and metal ions – Reaction or interaction?

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are part of the cell’s molecular chaperone system responsible for the proper folding (or refolding) of proteins. They are expressed in cells of a wide variety of organisms, from bacteria and fungi to humans. While some HSPs require metal ions for proper functioning, others are expressed as a response of the organism to either essential or toxic metal ions. Their presence can influence the occurrence of cellular processes, even those as significant as programmed cell death. The development of research methods and structural modeling has enabled increasingly accurate recognition of new HSP functions, including their role in maintaining metal ion homeostasis. Current investigations on the expression of HSPs in response to heavy metal ions include not only the direct effect of these ions on the cell but also analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the increased production of HSPs with increasing ROS concentration. This minireview contains information about the direct and indirect interactions of heat shock proteins with metal ions, both those of biological importance and heavy metals.