Determination of Hsp90 Activity Through Activation of Glucocorticoid Receptors in Yeast

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is an essential regulator of cellular function through activation of so-called client proteins. Hsp90 is currently a target for potential anti-cancer therapeutics. Assaying for defects in Hsp90 using budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is possible and efficient due to the high conservation between the human and yeast Hsp90 systems. Here, we present a method for the determination of Hsp90 activity indirectly through the activation of exogenously expressed glucocorticoid receptor, a natural client protein of Hsp90.