Chaperone proteins are critical for protein folding and stability, and hence are
necessary for normal cellular organization and function. Recent studies have begun to
interrogate the role of this specialized class of proteins in muscle biology. During
development, chaperone-mediated folding of client proteins enables their integration into
nascent sarcomeres. In addition to assisting with muscle differentiation, chaperones play
a key role in maintenance of muscle tissues. Further, disruption of the chaperone network
can result in neuromuscular disease. In this review, we discuss how chaperones are
involved in myofibrillogenesis, sarcomere maintenance and muscle disorders. We also
consider the possibilities of therapeutically targeting chaperones to treat muscle
disease.
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