Hsc70 interacting protein, Hip, is an adaptor protein that mediates the association of the heat shock proteins Hsp70 and Hsp90. It has been shown to be involved in the assembly process of glucocorticoid receptor, which requires the assistance of multiple molecular chaperones. Gene transcription is reported to be downregulated in colorectal carcinoma tissue suggesting possible tumor suppressor function.
Hip is also involved in the direct targeting of cytosolic proteins containing the pentapeptide KFERQ to the lysosome, a process known as chaperone mediated autophagy or CMA, via the lysosome receptor LAMP2 in conjunction with the chaperone proteins Hsc70 and Hsp90 and the co-chaperones BAG1, Hop and Hsp40.
