Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 (HSF1)

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a group of proteins whose expression is increased when the cells are exposed to elevated temperatures or other stress. It was discovered that Heat Shock Factor 1(HSF1) is a powerful multifaceted modifier of carcinogenesis. HSF1 knockout mice show significantly decreased incidence of skin tumor after topical application of DMBA, a mutagen .HSF1 is potent and activated rapidly though transiently by heat shock, whereas HSF2 is a less active transcriptional regulator but can retain its DNA binding properties for extended periods. In vertebrates, HSF1 mediates the ubiquitous response to stress stimuli, while the role of a second HSE-binding factor, HSF2, is still unclear. HSF2 shows common structural domains with HSF1; however, it is active at normal temperatures.