Characterization and regulation of the major histocompatibility complex-encoded proteins Hsp70-Hom and Hsp70-1/2

Vertebrate cells contain at least 12 different genes for Hsp70 proteins, 3 of which are encoded in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III region. In the human MHC, these are named Hsp70-1, -2, and -Hom. To characterize these proteins, we have determined their substrate binding specificity, their cellular and tissue distribution, and the regulation of their expression. We show for the first time (1) peptide binding specificity of Hsp70-Hom; (2) endogenous expression of Hsp70-Hom in human cell lines; (3) cytoplasmic location of Hsp70-Hom protein under basal conditions and concentration in the nucleus after heat shock; (4) unique RNA expression profiles in human tissues for each of the MHC-encoded Hsp70s, significantly different from that for the constitutive Hsc70; (5) a relative increase in levels of Hsp70-Hom protein, compared with other Hsp70s, in response to interferon gamma; and (6) a specific increase on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of in vivo messenger RNA levels for the MHC-encoded Hsp70s and the DnaJ homologue, hdj2, relative to other chaperones. The unique tissue distributions and specific up-regulation by LPS of the MHC-encoded Hsp70s suggest some specialization of functions for these members of the Hsp70 family, possibly in the inflammatory response.     

Hsp27 enhances recovery of splicing as well as rephosphorylation of SRp38 after heat shock

A heat stress causes a rapid inhibition of splicing. Exogenous expression of Hsp27 did not prevent that inhibition but enhanced the recovery of splicing afterward. Another small heat shock protein, alphaB-crystallin, had no effect. Hsp27, but not alphaB-crystallin, also hastened rephosphorylation of SRp38-dephosphorylated a potent inhibitor of splicing-after a heat shock, although it did not prevent dephosphorylation by a heat shock. The effect of Hsp27 on rephosphorylation of SRp38 required phosphorylatable Hsp27. A Hsp90 client protein was required for the effect of Hsp27 on recovery of spicing and on rephosphorylation of SRp38. Raising the Hsp70 level by either a pre-heat shock or by exogenous expression had no effect on either dephosphorylation of SRp38 during heat shock or rephosphorylation after heat shock. The phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A prevented dephosphorylation of SRp38 during a heat shock and caused complete rephosphorylation of SRp38 after a heat shock, indicating that cells recovering from a heat shock are not deficient in kinase activity. Together our data show that the activity of Hsp27 in restoring splicing is not due to a general thermoprotective effect of Hsp27, but that Hsp27 is an active participant in the (de)phosphorylation cascade controlling the activity of the splicing regulator SRp38.     

Heat shock-induced SRSF10 dephosphorylation displays thermotolerance mediated by Hsp27

Gene regulation in response to environmental stress is critical for the survival of all organisms. From Saccharomyces cerevisiae to humans, it has been observed that splicing of mRNA precursors is repressed upon heat shock. However, a mild heat pretreatment often prevents splicing inhibition in response to a subsequent and more severe heat shock, a phenomenon called splicing thermotolerance. We have shown previously that the splicing regulator SRSF10 (formerly SRp38) is specifically dephosphorylated by the phosphatase PP1 in response to heat shock and that dephosphorylated SRSF10 is responsible for splicing repression caused by heat shock. Here we report that a mild heat shock protects SRSF10 from dephosphorylation during a second and more severe heat shock. Furthermore, this "thermotolerance" of SRSF10 phosphorylation, like that of splicing, requires de novo protein synthesis, specifically the synthesis of heat shock proteins. Indeed, overexpression of one of these proteins, Hsp27, inhibits SRSF10 dephosphorylation in response to heat shock and does so by interaction with SRSF10. Our data thus provide evidence that splicing thermotolerance is acquired through maintenance of SRSF10 phosphorylation and that this is mediated at least in part by Hsp27.     

Translational regulation of Hsp90 mRNA. AUG-proximal 5'-untranslated region elements essential for preferential heat shock translation

Heat shock in Drosophila results in repression of most normal (non-heat shock) mRNA translation and the preferential translation of the heat shock mRNAs. The sequence elements that confer preferential translation have been localized to the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) for Hsp22 and Hsp70 mRNAs (in Drosophila). Hsp90 mRNA is unique among the heat shock mRNAs in having extensive secondary structure in its 5'-UTR and being abundantly represented in the non-heat shocked cell. In this study, we show that Hsp90 mRNA translation is inefficient at normal growth temperature, and substantially activated by heat shock. Its preferential translation is not based on an IRES-mediated translation pathway, because overexpression of eIF4E-BP inhibits its translation (and the translation of Hsp70 mRNA). The ability of Hsp90 mRNA to be preferentially translated is conferred by its 5'-UTR, but, in contrast to Hsp22 and -70, is primarily influenced by nucleotides close to the AUG initiation codon. We present a model to account for Hsp90 mRNA translation, incorporating results indicating that heat shock inhibits eIF4F activity, and that Hsp90 mRNA translation is sensitive to eIF4F inactivation.     

Heat shock proteins affect RNA processing during the heat shock response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the splicing of mRNA precursors is disrupted by a severe heat shock. Mild heat treatments prior to severe heat shock protect splicing from disruption, as was previously reported for Drosophila melanogaster. In contrast to D. melanogaster, protein synthesis during the pretreatment is not required to protect splicing in yeast cells. However, protein synthesis is required for the rapid recovery of splicing once it has been disrupted by a sudden severe heat shock. Mutations in two classes of yeast hsp genes affect the pattern of RNA splicing during the heat shock response. First, certain hsp70 mutants, which overproduce other heat shock proteins at normal temperatures, show constitutive protection of splicing at high temperatures and do not require pretreatment. Second, in hsp104 mutants, the recovery of RNA splicing after a severe heat shock is delayed compared with wild-type cells. These results indicate a greater degree of specialization in the protective functions of hsps than has previously been suspected. Some of the proteins (e.g., members of the hsp70 and hsp82 gene families) help to maintain normal cellular processes at higher temperatures. The particular function of hsp104, at least in splicing, is to facilitate recovery of the process once it has been disrupted.     

Loss of Hsp70 in Drosophila is pleiotropic, with effects on thermotolerance, recovery from heat shock and neurodegeneration

The heat-shock response is a programmed change in gene expression carried out by cells in response to environmental stress, such as heat. This response is universal and is characterized by the synthesis of a small group of conserved protein chaperones. In Drosophila melanogaster the Hsp70 chaperone dominates the profile of protein synthesis during the heat-shock response. We recently generated precise deletion alleles of the Hsp70 genes of D. melanogaster and have used those alleles to characterize the phenotypes of Hsp70-deficient flies. Flies with Hsp70 deletions have reduced thermotolerance. We find that Hsp70 is essential to survive a severe heat shock, but is not required to survive a milder heat shock, indicating that a significant degree of thermotolerance remains in the absence of Hsp70. However, flies without Hsp70 have a lengthened heat-shock response and an extended developmental delay after a non-lethal heat shock, indicating Hsp70 has an important role in recovery from stress, even at lower temperatures. Lack of Hsp70 also confers enhanced sensitivity to a temperature-sensitive lethal mutation and to the neurodegenerative effects produced by expression of a human polyglutamine disease protein.     

Heat shock protein 70 is able to prevent heat shock-induced resistance of target cells to CTL

Heat shock or transfection with heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) genes has been shown to protect tumor cell lines against immune mechanisms of cytotoxicity. We have reported previously that heat shock confers resistance to CTL in the rat myeloma cell line Y3 that is Hsp70 defective. Evidence is now presented that Hsp70 is able to prevent the induction of the resistant phenotype. In Con A-stimulated lymphocytes and in lymphocyte x Y3 somatic cell hybrid clones a severe, non-Hsp70-inducing heat shock elicits resistance to CTL in contrast to a heat shock that results in Hsp70 expression. Thus, Hsp70 expression appears to be negatively associated with the development of resistance. Furthermore, loading of Y3 cells with recombinant Hsp70 protein before heat shock is able to prevent resistance. Because apoptosis induced in Y3 cells by heat shock is not affected, Hsp70 appears to interfere selectively with the CTL-induced lethal pathway that is found to be calcium but not caspase dependent. It is suggested that after heat shock Hsp70 enhances the CTL-induced apoptotic pathway by chaperoning certain proteins in the target cell that are involved in the execution of cell death. Thus, although shown to confer protection against many cytotoxic mechanisms, Hsp70 does not appear to be generally cytoprotective. This observation could also be of relevance when interpreting the effectiveness of tumor immunity.     

Stage-specific localization of the small heat shock protein Hsp27 during oogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster

The developmental and heat shock-induced expression of the small heat shock protein Hsp27 was investigated by confocal microscopy of whole-mount immunostained preparations of ovarioles during oogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster. In unstressed flies, Hsp27 was mainly associated with germline nurse cells throughout egg development. A small group of somatic follicle cells also expressed Hsp27 specifically at stages 8 to 10 of oogenesis. Interestingly, this Hsp showed a different intracellular localization depending on the stages of egg chamber development. Thus Hsp27 was localized in the nucleus of nurse cells during the first stages of oogenesis (from germarium to stage 6) whereas it showed a perinuclear and cytoplasmic localization from stage 8. After a heat shock, Hsp27 accumulated in somatic follicle cells surrounding the egg chamber whereas the expression of this small Hsp did not seem to be enhanced in nurse cells. The stage-dependent pattern of intracellular localization of Hsp27 observed in nurse cells of unstressed flies was also observed following heat shock. At late stages of oogenesis, Hsp27 also showed a perinuclear distribution in follicle and nurse cells after heat stress. These observations suggest that different factors may modulate the expression and intracellular distribution of Hsp27. This modulation may be associated with the specific activities occurring in each particular cell type throughout oogenesis during both normal development and under heat shock conditions. Edited by: E.R. Schmidt     

Hsp70 and larval thermotolerance in Drosophila melanogaster: how much is enough and when is more too much?

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) and other molecular chaperones perform diverse cellular roles (e.g., inducible thermotolerance) whose functional consequences are concentration dependent. We manipulated Hsp70 concentration quantitatively in intact larvae of Drosophila melanogaster to examine its effect on survival, developmental time and tissue damage after heat shock. Larvae of an extra-copy strain, which has 22 hsp70 copies, produced Hsp70 more rapidly and to higher concentrations than larvae of a control strain, which has the wild-type 10 copies of the gene. Increasing the magnitude and duration of pretreatment increased Hsp70 concentrations, improved tolerance of more severe stress, and reduced delays in development. Pretreatment, however, did not protect against acute tissue damage. For larvae provided a brief or mild intensity pretreatment, faster expression of Hsp70 in the extra-copy strain improved survival to adult and reduced tissue damage 21h after heat shock. Negative effects on survival ensued in extra-copy larvae pretreated most intensely, but their overexpression of Hsp70 did not increase tissue damage. Because rapid expression to yield a low Hsp70 concentration benefits larvae but overexpression harms them, natural selection may balance benefits and costs of high and low expression levels in natural populations.