Heat shock protein beta-8 (HSPB8)

Heat shock protein beta-8 (HSPB8) is a small heat shock protein functioning primarily as a molecular chaperone that helps maintain protein homeostasis, particularly under cellular stress. It prevents irreversible protein aggregation, promotes the degradation of misfolded proteins (with BAG3 via autophagy), and is expressed throughout the body, especially in muscle and nerve tissues. Mutations in the HSPB8 gene are associated with hereditary neuromuscular diseases, notably distal hereditary motor neuropathy type II and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2L. HSPB8 activity is central to cytoskeletal maintenance, muscle contraction, and protecting cells from apoptotic signals. Aberrant HSPB8 function or expression can lead to neuronal vulnerability, impaired muscle function, and may contribute to tumorigenesis in certain settings

Other names

H11heat shock protein beta-8HSP22HspB8protein kinase H11E2IG1CMT2LDHMN2HMN2HMN2AHSPB8_HUMANalpha-crystallin C chainE2-induced gene 1 proteinsmall stress protein-like protein HSP22

Chaperone modulation (prevents aggregate formation, promotes degradation of misfolded proteins via autophagy)