This report describes the involvement of 70-kD heat-shock proteins (hs
p70) in the import of proteins into mammalian peroxisomes. Employing a
microinjection-based assay (Walton, P. A., S. J. Gould, J. R. Feramis
co, and S. Subramani. 1992. Mel. Cell Biol. 12:531-541), we demonstrat
e that proteins of the hsp70 family were associated with proteins bein
g imported into the peroxisomal matrix. Import of peroxisomal proteins
could be inhibited by coinjection of antibodies directed against the
constitutive hsp70 proteins (hsp73). In a permeabilized-cell assay (We
ndland and Subramani. 1993. J. Cell Biol. 120:675-685), antibodies dir
ected against hsp70 proteins were shown to inhibit peroxisomal protein
import. Inhibition could be overcome by the addition of exogenous hsp
70 proteins. Purified rat liver peroxisomes were shown to have associa
ted hsp70 proteins. The amount of associated hsp70 was increased under
conditions of peroxisomal proliferation. Furthermore, proteinase prot
ection assays indicated that the hsp70 molecules were located on the o
utside of the peroxisomal membrane. Finally, the process of heat-shock
ing cells resulted in a considerable delay in the import of peroxisoma
l proteins. Taken together, these results indicate that heat-shock pro
teins of the cytoplasmic hsp70 family are involved in the import of pe
roxisomal proteins.