The function of the DegP (HtrA) protein: Protease versus chaperone.

The DegP (or HtrA) is a highly conserved family of proteins functioning in all living organisms. It was initially identified as a protease functioning in the periplasmic space of the Gram-negative bacterial cells. It was later reported to also exhibit chaperone activity and thus has been designated as a bifunctional protein. However, recent studies demonstrated that in living cells it more likely functions only as a protease with hardly detectable chaperone activities. In this review, I will summarize the evidences clarifying that DegP more likely only functions as a protease rather than as a chaperone in cells. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(11):904-907, 2016.