heat-shock protein

noun

Definition of heat-shock protein

: any of a group of molecular chaperones (see chaperone entry 1 sense 3) that are produced especially in cells subjected to stressful conditions (such as high temperature) and that serve to stabilize proteins and ensure proper assembly and folding of proteins

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The first known use of heat-shock protein was in 1975

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heat shock protein

noun

variants: or heat-shock protein

Medical Definition of heat shock protein

: any of a group of molecular chaperones that are produced especially in cells subjected to stressful conditions (such as high temperature or changes in pH) and that serve to stabilize proteins and ensure proper assembly and folding of proteins Normally, heat-shock proteins protect other proteins inside a cell from being damaged by extreme heat or other stress.— Nathan Seppa, Science News, 1 Dec. 2001