Inhibition of glucose-regulated and heat shock protein induction by low temperature.

The present study evaluating induction of the major stress proteins in the subphysiological temperature range (25-33 degrees C) shows that none of the agents used could effectively induce the heat shock proteins (hsp) or the glucose related protein grp95 at low temperature. However, grp82 was still induced by some amino acid analogs and by glucose deprivation while certain oxygen-regulated proteins were still induced by hypoxia at 25 degrees C. Analogs were incorporated and protein turnover was increased at low temperature even though most stress proteins were not induced. Synthesis of hsps, but not that of grps, was induced if cultures containing analog-substituted proteins were shifted to 37 degrees C. Temperature dependence of hsp induction by arsenite showed a sharp threshold between 30 degrees C and 33 degrees C. Low temperature inhibition of induction points to the existence of a temperature-dependent mechanism operating within the normal physiological temperature range and may be a useful parameter in evaluating proposed mechanisms of stress protein regulation.