Crowbars and ratchets: Hsp100 chaperones as tools in reversing protein aggregation

Molecular chaperones have the capacity to prevent inappropriate interactions between aggregation-prone folding or unfolding intermediates created in the cell during protein synthesis or in response to physical and chemical stress. What happens when surveillance by molecular chaperones is evaded or overwhelmed and aggregates accumulate? Recent progress in the elucidation of Hsp100/Clp function sugg…