title: A heat shock protein is encoded within mitochondria of higher plants.
abstract: A temperature shift from 25 to 41 degrees C initiates the synthesis of a specific set of proteins in maize, including a peptide of 60 kilodaltons. Using an in vitro mitochondrial protein synthesizing system, we provide evidence that this 60-kDa heat shock protein is encoded within the organelle. Further support for this heat-induced protein being encoded within mitochondria is that its synthesis is inhibited in whole seedlings by chloramphenicol. This 60-kDa heat shock protein is induced in all lines of maize we examined. Additionally, a heat-induced peptide of similar size (62 kDa) can be detected in isolated mitochondria of a dicot plant, Brassica campestris. The function of the heat shock protein encoded within the mitochondria remains unknown.
mesh_terms: D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010944:Plants / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013696:Temperature; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins