Yeast Hsp70 RNA levels vary in response to the physiological status of the cell.

Yeast Hsp70 genes constitute a multigene family in which at least five of the nine members are heat inducible. Hsp70 RNA levels also vary dramatically during stationary arrest and sporulation. During growth to stationary phase, SSB1-SSB2 and SSC1 RNAs decreased in abundance as cell density increased. In contrast, SSA1-SSA2 RNA levels increased before the diauxic shift and then decreased as cells approach stationary phase. SSA3 RNA was detected only after the diauxic shift and accumulated to high levels as cells entered stationary phase. This accumulation was reversed by addition of glucose. Studies with cyr1 mutants indicated that SSA3 RNA accumulation is stimulated by decreasing intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations. When cells were incubated in sporulation medium, most Hsp70 RNAs, with the exception of SSA1-SSA2 RNA, decreased in abundance. This finding contrasted with the SSA1-SSA2 pattern observed during growth to stationary phase. SSA3 RNA was not detected during growth in acetate-based medium but accumulated after several hours. SSA3 RNA accumulation was higher in sporulating cells than in nonsporulating cells and was reversed by addition of glucose.