Required for growth at high temperatures, probably by acting as a chaperone during heat shock and targeting heat-denatured proteins for degradation by ClpP. Required for biofilm formation. May act as a chaperone regulating CtsR activity. May interact with ClpP. By heat shock. Transcriptionally regulated by CtsR (PubMed:15554981). Up-regulated by heavy metals such as Cu(2+) and Cd(2+), but Zn(2+) and Co(2+) have no effect (PubMed:22126623). Forms part of an operon with ctsR, mcsA and mcsB. Belongs to the ClpA/ClpB family. ClpC subfamily.