# Heat shock proteins

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a family of highly conserved 'molecular chaperones'. They are named for being induced by heat, but they are active under many kinds of stress. They help proteins fold, prevent them from clumping, try to refold damaged ones when possible, and send the unsalvageable ones for disposal, keeping the proteins in your cells healthy. HSPs like HSP70 and HSP90 are central to proteostasis (protein quality control). Their induction by exercise and heat exposure (including sauna) is studied as one of many contributing mechanisms behind those activities' health effects.

## Sources

- Lindquist S, Craig EA. (1988). The heat-shock proteins. Annual Review of Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ge.22.120188.003215
- Hartl FU. (1996). Molecular chaperones in cellular protein folding. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/381571a0

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/heat-shock-proteins · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_