We have investigated the induction of known hsp (heat shock protein) RNA and other heat shock (HS) inducible transcripts in Chinese hamster cells by various stresses including DNA damaging agents. cDNA clones coding for at least 14 different HS-inducible transcripts were isolated. By DNA sequence analysis and homology with cDNA clones of other species, some of these cDNA clones were identified as coding for hsp27, hsp89 alpha, hsp89 beta, two different hsp70s, ubiquitin, and the HS-inducible RNA polymerase III transcript B2. In addition, hsp-related cDNA clones, hsp60 and four with hsp70 homology, were isolated which coded for transcripts which were not induced by HS or other stresses in two different Chinese hamster cell lines. After HS or treatment with the HS-mimetic agent ethanol, there was coordinate induction of all 14 transcripts. With severe HS treatments which produced substantial cytotoxicity, the increase in all transcripts except B2 RNA was delayed and, in some cases, suppressed. The only DNA damaging agent, which induced many HS-inducible transcripts, was high-dose methylmethane sulfonate (MMS). However, induction by MMS was not coordinate for all transcripts as it was for HS, and B2 RNA was not induced. hsp27 RNA induction differed from the others in several respects including induction by irradiation and other agents which produce high levels of DNA damage repaired by nucleotide excision repair. The implications of these findings in cellular events such as cytotoxicity, thermotolerance, and regulation of stress responses will be discussed.