Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid molecules comprising a heat-inducible promoter and to expression vectors and host cells containing at least one nucleic acid molecule according to the invention. The present invention further relates to kits and methods for producing one or more proteins using the nucleic acid molecules according to the invention and to various uses of the same. The object of the invention is to provide a promoter the heat-inducible characteristic of which is as selective as possible, in particular a promoter which is active in yeasts and which is suitable for protein expression at high temperatures.