[Yeast secretory heat-shock proteins: a new family of stress proteins?].

The overwhelming majority of presently known heat shock proteins are associated with cells. These proteins are localized nearly in practically all subcellular compartments and perform a diversity of functions, including control over folding and translocations of proteins their folding, formation of oligomeric complexes, etc. Besides, these proteins determine the thermal tolerance of cells. Recent studies have revealed the presence of secretory heat shock proteins in yeast cells. The most distinctive feature of these proteins, which makes them different from already identified stress proteins, is their ability to be effectively secret from yeast cells and accumulate in culture media under hyperthermal conditions. The functional significance of secretory heat shock proteins still remains to be elucidated.