In vivo phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance reveals lowered ATP during heat shock of Tetrahymena.

Cells synthesize a characteristic set of proteins--heat shock proteins--in response to a rapid temperature jump or certain other stress treatments. The technique of phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine in vivo the effects of temperature jump on two species of Tetrahymena that initiate the heat shock response at different temperatures. An immediate 50 percent decrease in cellular adenosine triphosphate was observed when either species was jumped to a temperature that strongly induces synthesis of heat shock proteins. This new adenosine triphosphate concentration was maintained at the heat shock temperature.