|
January 18, 2008
Source:
CropBiotech Update
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are
molecular chaperones that are expressed in large amount when
cells are exposed to elevated temperature and other stress. They
are involved in numerous plant cellular processes like protein
folding, transport of proteins across membranes, regulation of
protein activities and prevention of irreversible protein
aggregation.
Scientists from the Taiwanese Institute of Molecular Biology
have recently presented evidences that a particular heat shock
protein, Hsp70, is necessary for seed germination in the model
plant Arabidopsis. The scientists mutated the genes coding for
Hsp70 to establish its role in plant development. Arabidopsis
seedlings expressing the heat shock protein were found to
exhibit thermotolerance. They can adapt to temperature
fluctuations without affecting the germination process.
Modifying Hsp expression in plants can confer tolerance to
certain stresses like drought and salinity.
Read t the paper published by Plant Physiology at
http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/content/abstract/pp.107.114496v1
|
|
