Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 7, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. sabine.rospert@biochemie.uni-freiburg.de
The terms chaperone and heat-shock protein are frequently used as synonyms, but this is an oversimplification. Although one subset of chaperones is induced by heat stress, a distinct group fails to respond in the same manner. Recent work reveals that this latter group is linked to the translational apparatus and functions in co-translational processes.