Modulators of the eukaryotic heat shock response.

A wide variety of agents other than heat have been reported to induce or suppress heat shock protein (hsp) synthesis in eukaryotic cells. Such agents, termed 'modulators', include inhibitors of respiration, low molecular weight nutrients, oxygen, hormones, sulfhydryl reagents, ionophores and amino acid analogues. The evidence for modulation is critically reviewed and common mechanisms of action that may relate modulation to induction by heat are discussed.