Molybdate induces thermotolerance in yeast

Application of a mild heat pretreatment, performed by shifting cells from 2 7 degrees C to 37 degrees C led to the protection of yeast cells from death due to a subsequent extreme heat shock at 53 degrees C. The presence of cy cloheximide inhibited this induction of thermotolerance, indicating the inv olvement of de novo protein. The phosphatase inhibitor sodium molybdate ind uced thermotolerance to the non-pretreated yeast cells. This induction of t hermotolerance did not seem to depend upon de novo protein synthesis. Thus, acquisition of thermotolerance in yeast may involve a number of cellular m echanisms depending on the conditions the organism encounters at any partic ular time.