Heat Shock 70kDa Protein 8 (HSPA8)

The product encoded by this gene belongs to the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family which contains both heat-inducible and constitutively expressed members. The latter are called heat-shock cognate proteins. This gene encodes a heat-shock cognate protein known as Hsc70. This protein binds to nascent polypeptides to facilitate correct protein folding. It also functions as an ATPase in the disassembly of clathrin-coated vesicles during transport of membrane components through the cell. Two alternatively spliced variants have been characterized to date.

HSPA8 is ATPase that works with auxilin to remove clathrin coated vesicles. In neurons, synaptojanin is also an important protein involved in vesicle uncoating.