On the path to the heat shock response: destabilization and formation of partially folded protein intermediates, a consequence of protein thiol modification.

This review discusses the initial events that occur during oxidative stress that induce the synthesis of heat shock proteins. The focus is on non-native oxidation or modification of protein thiols and the destablization that can result. Proteins that contain non-native modified thiols can become destablized such that they unfold into molten globule-like intermediates at or below 37 degrees C, relieving Hsf-1 negative regulation, and inducing Hsp transcription.