Fig. 1.
Pathways and modifiers influencing proteostasis. Genetic, epigenetic, physiological and environmental stressors affect proteostasis and cause the accumulation of misfunctional proteins. Small molecule modulators of the activities of the proteostasis network pathways (small molecule proteostasis regulators) facilitate chaperone-mediate refolding and/or induce the degradation of misfolded and damaged proteins therefore rebalancing cellular proteostasis. In parenthesis are indicated some of the genes responsible for proteostasis maintenance.