Heat shock induces a decrease in incorporation of 8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate into a 42 kilodalton protein in Drosophila salivary glands.

The ATP photoaffinity analogue 8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate (8N3ATP) was used to identify changes which occur in ATP binding proteins in Drosophila salivary glands following heat shock. Photolabeling experiments were done on salivary gland homogenates. Photoincorporation of 8N3ATP was observed in several proteins in both 25 degrees C control and 35 degrees C heat-shocked samples. A 42 kDa protein showed a decrease in the level of photoincorporation observed at saturation with the analogue following heat shock. A 2 min heat shock is enough to induce the effect. Protection against photolabeling was observed with low concentrations (5 microM) of ATP, while excess GTP did not protect, demonstrating that the nucleotide binding site is specific for ATP. The change is rapid enough to suggest that it is one of the earliest cellular changes in response to heat shock.