HSPA8 belongs to the heat shock protein 70 family which contains both heat-inducible and constitutively expressed members. The latter are called heat-shock cognate proteins. HSPA8 is a heat-shock cognate protein. This protein binds to nascent polypeptides to facilitate correct folding. The protein also functions as an ATPase in the disassembly of clathrin-coated vesicles during transport of membrane components through the cell.
