Hsp17.7 belongs to the Class II small heat shock protein family. As soon as plant cells are stressed by rising temperatures, they are induced. The way in which small heat shock proteins protect living cells is not fully understood. They appear to be involved in the function of chaperone proteins by protecting other proteins from irreversible degeneration. Small hsp also played an important role in the later stage of seed maturation.
For research use only, not for clinical use.