In vitro Chaperone Activity Assay Using α-Amylase as Target Protein Small heat shock proteins (sHSP) are stress proteins which are ubiquitously found in almost all living organisms. They function as molecular chaperones, which assist in protein folding during translation and in the prevention of irreversible protein aggregation under denaturing conditions. This protocol describes the use of α-amylase as target protein in assessing the chaperone activity of wild and mutant recombinant small heat shock proteins of Mycobacterium leprae. Chaperone activity of these proteins, along with α-crystallin, a standard sHSP was demonstrated using a new method employing their protective effect against heat denaturation of α-amylase from porcine pancreas. The regained enzymatic activity of the α-amylase was demonstrated on starch agar plates stained with Iodine-Potassium Iodide (I2-KI) solution.