Ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy (UVRR) in combination with a nanosecond temperature jump (T-jump) was used to investigate early steps in the temperature-induced alpha-helix to beta-sheet conformational transition of poly(L-lysine) [poly(K)]. Excitation at 197 nm from a tunable frequency-quadrupled Ti:sapphire laser provided high-quality UVRR spectra, containing multiple conformation-sensitive amide bands. Although un-ionized poly(K) (pH 11.6) is mainly alpha-helical below 30 degrees C, there is a detectable fraction (approximately 15%) of unfolded polypeptide, which is mainly in the poly(L-proline) II (PPII) conformation. However, deviations from the expected amide I and II signals indicate an additional conformation, suggested to be beta-strand. Above 30 degrees C un-ionized poly(K) forms a beta-sheet at a rate (minutes) which increases with increasing temperature. A 22-44 degrees C T-jump is accompanied by prompt amide I and II difference signals suggested to arise from a rapid shift in the PPII/beta-strand equilibrium. These signals are superimposed on a subsequently evolving difference spectrum which is characteristic of PPII, although the extent of conversion is low, approximately 2% at the 3 micros time limit of the experiment. The rise time of the PPII signals is approximately 250 ns, consistent with melting of short alpha-helical segments. A model is proposed in which the melted PPII segments interconvert with beta-strand conformation, whose association through interstrand H-bonding nucleates the formation of beta-sheet. The intrinsic propensity for beta-strand formation could be a determinant of beta-sheet induction time, with implications for the onset of amyloid diseases.