HSF heat shock factor
SMART ACC:	SM000415
Description:	-
InterPro ACC:	IPR000232
InterPro abstract:	Heat shock factor (HSF) is a transcriptional activator of heat shock genes [ PUBMED:2257625 PUBMED:19864465 ]: it binds specifically to heat shock promoter elements, which are palindromic sequences rich with repetitive purine and pyrimidine … expand Heat shock factor (HSF) is a transcriptional activator of heat shock genes [ PUBMED:2257625 PUBMED:19864465 ]: it binds specifically to heat shock promoter elements, which are palindromic sequences rich with repetitive purine and pyrimidine motifs [ PUBMED:2257625 ]. Under normal conditions, HSF is a homo-trimeric cytoplasmic protein, but heat shock activation results in relocalisation to the nucleus [ PUBMED:1871105 ]. Each HSF monomer contains one C-terminal and three N-terminal leucine zipper repeats [ PUBMED:1871106 ]. Point mutations in these regions result in disruption of cellular localisation, rendering the protein constitutively nuclear [ PUBMED:1871105 ]. Two sequences flanking the N-terminal zippers fit the consensus of a bi-partite nuclear localisation signal (NLS). Interaction between the N- and C-terminal zippers may result in a structure that masks the NLS sequences: following activation of HSF, these may then be unmasked, resulting in relocalisation of the protein to the nucleus [ PUBMED:1871106 ]. The DNA-binding component of HSF lies to the N terminus of the first NLS region, and is referred to as the HSF domain. collapse
GO process:	regulation of DNA-templated transcription (GO:0006355)
GO function:	DNA-binding transcription factor activity (GO:0003700), sequence-specific DNA binding (GO:0043565)
Family alignment:	View the Family alignment or the Alignment consensus sequence
There are 10 788 HSF domains in 10 729 proteins in SMART's NRDB database.

Taxonomic distribution of proteins containing HSF domains

The tree below includes only several representative species and genera. The complete taxonomic breakdown of all proteins containing HSF domains can be accessed here. Click the counts or percentage values to display the corresponding proteins.

Predicted cellular role

Binding / catalysis:	DNA-binding

Relevant references for this domain

Primary literature for the HSF domain is listed below. Automatically-derived, secondary literature is also available.

KEGG pathways involving proteins which contain this domain

This information is based on the mapping of SMART genomic protein database to KEGG orthologous groups. Percentages are related to the number of proteins containing a HSF domain which could be assigned to a KEGG orthologous group, and not all proteins containing HSF domains. Please note that proteins can be included in multiple pathways, ie. the numbers below will not add to 100%.

KEGG pathways

Some of these pathways are included in the interactive Pathways Explorer overview maps. Select an overview map and click the button below to highlight them in iPath.

KEGG orthologous groups

Some of these KOs are included in the interactive Pathways Explorer overview maps. Select an overview map and click the button below to highlight them in iPath.

3D structures in PDB containing this domain

Links to other resources describing this domain

Pfam	HSF_DNA-bind
PROSITE	HSF_DOMAIN
InterPro	IPR000232