Regulation of the synthesis of normal cellular proteins during heat shock

Abstract

Exposure of plant cells to heat shock temperature results in the synthesis of a set of heat shock proteins and, in many cases, the interruption of normal cellular protein synthesis. In some plant secretory cells the interruption of normal cellular protein synthesis is accomplished by the destabilization of otherwise stable mRNAs, perhaps via the dissociation of the endoplasmic reticulum lamellae upon which these mRNAs are translated. Such a mechanism represents a novel means for the regulation of gene expression.