HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS - A SEARCH FOR FUNCTIONS

Heat-shock proteins (hsps) are synthesised in response to increased gr owing temperature and are thought to result in the acquisition of ther motolerance to otherwise nonpermissive temperatures. This phenomenon, called the heat-shock response (HSR), is conserved among all biologica l organisms. While much information is available on the regulation of heat-shock genes and the synthesis of hsps, comparatively little is kn own of hsp functions in cells. The current thinking is that hsps provi de the molecular basis for thermotolerance although there is limited e vidence to support this view. Research in our laboratory is focused on the characterisation of hsps that function in signal transduction inc luding protein kinases and heat-shock-induced calmodulin-binding prote ins. Such enzymes and proteins are likely to be involved in key regula tory mechanisms that operate during the HSR and may help to identify s pecific functions for hsps.