Interaction of HSP47 with Newly Synthesized Procollagen, and Regulation of HSP Expression

We have found a novel stress (heat shock) protein whose molecular size is 47kDa. As hsp47 binds to collagen, it can be easily purified using gelatin-Sepharose. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopic studies using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against HSP47 indicated the localization of HSP47 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the fibroblast. Immunoprecipitation studies using anti-HSP47 antibody revealed that two chains (α and ß) of type I procollagen were co-precipitated with HSP47.