Small heat shock proteins in the development of thermotolerance in Pisolithus sp.

Small heat shock proteins (HSPs) have been shown to confer thermotolerance in many organisms. Here, we demonstrate that small HSPs (sHSPs) can also be involved in development of thermotolerance in Pisolithus sp. In heat shock response, Pisolithus isolate RV82 synthesized proteins of molecular mass 28, 26 and 15–18 kDa. These group of proteins are synthesized when mycelial mass are exposed to heat shock temperature (42 °C) for short period (30 min) and incubated back at 28 °C, the optimal temperature for growth. Our results show sHSPs are an important biochemical alteration in ectomycorrhizal fungi under thermal stress.