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Updated: May 19, 2026

Studies of Chaperone-Cochaperone Interactions using Homogenous Bead-Based Assay
Published on: July 21, 2021
Modulation of the cochaperone AHA1 regulates heat-shock protein 90 and endothelial NO synthase activation by vascular
Fanny Desjardins1, Chantal Delisle, Jean-Philippe Gratton
1IRCM, 110 des Pins Ave West, Montreal, QC, H2W 1R7 Canada.
Objective:
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling to endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays a central role in angiogenesis. In endothelial cells (ECs), heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is also a regulator of eNOS activity. Our study is designed to determine whether modulation of the activator of Hsp90 ATPase 1 (AHA1) regulates the function of Hsp90 in ECs.
Methods And Results:
We show that eNOS phosphorylation on Ser-1179 after VEGF stimulation is significantly reduced in ECs transfected with a small interfering RNA against AHA1. Accordingly, VEGF-stimulated NO production, endothelial permeability, cell migration, and EC invasion in Matrigel implants in mice are reduced in small interfering RNA against AHA1-treated conditions. Furthermore, the induction of eNOS association with Hsp90 after VEGF stimulation is decreased in AHA1-downregulated cells. We also demonstrate that modulation of Hsp90 activity by AHA1 regulates phosphorylation of Hsp90 on Tyr-300. Interestingly, the association of AHA1 with Hsp90 is increased after c-Src-mediated phosphorylation of Hsp90 on Tyr-300. Finally, we show that overexpression of AHA1 in ECs promotes association of eNOS and Hsp90, phosphorylation of Ser-1179 of eNOS, increases NO production, and cell migration.
Conclusions:
These results reveal that modulation of Hsp90 activity by AHA1 regulates VEGF signaling to eNOS and angiogenesis.
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