The heat shock response of Neurospora crassa: stress-induced thermotolerance in relation to peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels.

Heat shock and other treatments, including cadmium chloride, hydrogen peroxide and sodium arsenite, led to the induction of high levels of peroxidase activity as well as thermotolerance in Neurospora crassa. No correlation was apparent between superoxide dismutase levels and development of thermotolerance following exposure to these stress conditions. A prominent role for peroxidase in protection against damage by toxic products of oxygen is suggested.