Hsr-omega, A Novel Gene Encoded by a Drosophila Heat Shock Puff

Although originally identified because of its abundant transcription in heat shock, the hsr-omega gene is active, at generally lower levels, in non-stressed cells. The locus produces an unusual set of three transcripts. Evidence from a variety of experiments suggests that one of these transcripts acts in the nucleus, possibly to regulate the activity of a nuclear protein. Another of the transcripts appears to act in the cytoplasm, possibly monitoring or regulating some aspect of translation. The two transcripts together could have a role in coordinating nuclear and cytoplasmic activity. A number of processes occur in eukaryotic cells in which nuclear and cytoplasmic activities need to be coordinated; we suggest that hsr-omega plays a role in such coordination.