HSF1 and neurodegenerative disease: In addition to the transition of active and inactive states of HSF1 by association with HSPs, previous studies have also reported that the activation and attenuation of HSF1 activity is achieved through extensive posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, sumoylation and acetylation.12 Although HSF1 has been implicated in counteracting cell stress and is critical in cancer biology, aging and neurodegenerative diseases, little is known about the regulatory molecules and complexes that modulate its activity.1, 15