Over-expression of a human homologue of hsp70 in the dopaminergic neurons of Drosophila provided them resistance against PQ-induced PD like symptoms. Like PQ-exposed TH-Gal4 > UAS-hsp70 flies, exposed TH-Gal4 > UAS-HSPA1L flies also exhibited reduced levels of OS as evidenced by less O 2 − generation, improved SOD activity, less formation of ONOO − and non-significant increase in MDA content. JNK phosphorylation and cleaved caspase-3 level was significantly less in the brain of PQ-exposed TH-Gal4 > UAS-HSPA1L flies in comparison to Gal4 control, as represented by immune-blotting images and densitometry analysis. Dopaminergic neuronal health depicted by representative confocal image of anti-DTH stained brain of control and PQ-exposed TH-Gal4 > UAS-HSPA1L flies and graphical representation of dopaminergic neurons in different clusters (n = 22). In the brain of PQ-exposed TH-Gal4 > UAS-HSPA1L flies, less decline in DA and lower level of DOPAC was observed. Improved locomotor performance and survival advantage were also observed in these flies. Values are mean ± SD (n = 3). Significance ascribed as * p 