Evidence for interaction between Hsp90 and the ER membrane complex

Numerous putative heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-interacting proteins, which could represent novel folding clients or co-chaperones, have been identified in recent years. Two separate high-throughput screens in yeast uncovered genetic effects between Hsp90 and components of the ER membrane complex (EMC), which is required for tolerance to unfolded protein response stress in yeast. Herein, we provide the first experimental evidence supporting that there is a genuine interaction of Hsp90 with the EMC. We demonstrate genetic interactions between EMC2 and the known Hsp90 co-chaperone encoded by STI1, as well as Hsp90 point mutant allele-specific differences in inherent growth and Hsp90 inhibitor tolerance in the absence and presence of EMC2. In co-precipitation experiments, Hsp90 interacts with Emc2p, whether or not Emc2p contains amino acid sequences designated as a tetratricopeptide repeat motif. Yeast with multiple EMC gene deletions exhibit increased sensitivity to Hsp90 inhibitor as well as defective folding of the well-established Hsp90 folding client, the glucocorticoid receptor. Altogether, our evidence of physical, genetic, and functional interaction of Hsp90 with the EMC, as well as bioinformatic analysis of shared interactors, supports that there is a legitimate interaction between them in vivo.