Ecology Letters, (2003) 6: 1025–1037 doi: 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00528.x REVIEW The evolutionary and ecological role of heat shock proteins Abstract Jesper Givskov Sørensen1*, Most heat shock proteins (Hsp) function as molecular chaperones that help organisms to Torsten Nygaard Kristensen1,2 cope with stress of both an internal and external nature. Here, we review the recent and Volker Loeschcke1 evidence of the relationship between stress resistance and inducible Hsp expression, 1 Department of Ecology and including a characterization of factors that induce the heat shock response and a Genetics, Aarhus Centre for discussion of the associated costs. We report on studies of stress resistance including Environmental Stress Research mild stress, effects of high larval densities, inbreeding and age on Hsp expression, as well (ACES), University of Aarhus, Ny as on natural variation in the expression of Hsps. The relationship between Hsps and life Munkegade, Aarhus C, Denmark 2 history traits is discussed with special emphasis on the ecological and evolutionary Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Danish relevance of Hsps. It is known that up-regulation of the Hsps is a common cellular Institute of Agricultural response to increased levels of non-native proteins that facilitates correct protein Sciences, Tjele, Denmark folding/refolding or degradation of non-functional proteins. However, we also suggest *Correspondence: E-mail: that the expression level of Hsp in each species and population is a balance between
[email protected] benefits and costs, i.e. a negative impact on growth, development rate and fertility as a result of overexpression of Hsps.