Mechanisms of action of Hsp27 and stress activated signaling

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Heat shock proteins are a class of proteins whose cellular expression can be increased by exposure of the cells to a potentially lethal stress, such as heat shock. One of these proteins is the small heat shock protein called Hsp27. This protein is expressed in a variety of cell types, but my interest is in its role in cells of the nervous system. Our research has shown that this protein can protect neurons from damage from various stressors. However, this protein is also found normal sensory neurons and we do not fully understand its role in the normal cells. It appears to play a role in the ability of these sensory neurons to regenerate after nerve injury. The research we describe in this project is designed to help us understand how Hsp27 can interact with the neuronal cytoskeleton (that is required for regeneration) and how it may contribute to promoting regeneration after damage. Understanding how proteins such as the sHsps function in the normal nervous system, particularly in neurons whose regenerative potential is quite good, will provide basic information on ways in which neuronal growth can be regulated. The normal role of Hsp27 in neurons, particularly those in which it is constitutively expressed, is not fully known; not all neurons express Hsp27 nor can it be induced in all neurons. This suggests that there is something special about its presence in sensory neurons which could be related to the generally very high regenerative potential of peripheral nerve axons, in contrast to that of CNS axons.