Small heat shock protein of Methanococcus jannaschii, a hyperthermophile

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) belong to a family of 12- to 43-kDa proteins that are ubiquitous and are conserved in amino acid sequence among all organisms. A sHSP homologue of Methanococcus jannaschii, a hyperthermophilic Archaeon, forms a homogeneous multimer comprised of 24 monomers with a molecular mass of 400 kDa in contrast to other sHSPs that show heterogeneous oligomeric complexes. Electron microscopy analysis revealed a spherically shaped oligomeric structure ≈15–20 nm in diameter. The protein confers thermal protection of other proteins in vitro as found in other sHSPs. Escherichia coli cell extracts containing the protein were protected from heat-denatured precipitation when heated up to 100°C, whereas extracts from cells not expressing the protein were heat-sensitive at 60°C. Similar results were obtained when purified sHSP protein was added to an E. coli cell lysate. The protein also prevented the aggregation of two purified proteins: single-chain monellin (SCM) at 80°C and citrate synthase at 40°C.