A cytosolic heat shock protein named Hpc60 has been purified by immunoaffinity chromatography from pea leaves and its function has been examined in vitro. Results show that Hpc60 may suppress the aggregation of luciferase (LUC), protect lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) from thermal inactivation. It also shows that Mg2+, ATP and pH affect the protective function of Hpc60 in different manners.