Overview:

HSF1 is a member of the heat shock transcription factor family. Protein-damaging stress lead to the activation of HSF1 which binds to upstream regulatory sequences in the promoters of heat shock genes leading to enhanced heat shock gene expression (1). The activation of HSF1 proceeds through a multi-step pathway, involving a monomer-to-trimer transition, nuclear accumulation and extensive posttranslational modifications. HSF1 activity is regulated at different levels by heat shock proteins and co-chaperones and is modulated further by a number of mechanisms involving other stress-regulated aspects of cell metabolism (2).

References:

1. Pirkkala, L. et al: Roles of the heat shock transcription factors in regulation of the heat shock response and beyond. FASEB J. 2001 May; 15 (7):1118-31.

2. Voellmy, R.: Feedback regulation of the heat shock response. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2006 ; (172):43-68.