Multifaceted roles of HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 90 molecular chaperones in plant development.

HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS 90 (HSP90s) are molecular chaperones that mediate correct folding and stability of many client proteins. These chaperones act as master molecular hubs, since they are involved in multiple aspects of cellular and developmental signalling in diverse organisms. Moreover, environmental and genetic perturbations affect both HSP90s and their clients, leading to alterations of molecular networks determining plant genotypes and phenotypes, and contributing to a broad phenotypic plasticity. Although HSP90 interaction networks affecting the genetic basis of phenotypic variation and diversity has been thoroughly studied in animals, they are just starting to emerge in plants. Here, we summarize current knowledge and discuss HSP90 network functions in the plant development and cellular homeostasis.