Cryoprotectin: a plant lipid-transfer protein homologue that stabilizes membranes during freezing.
Plants from temperate and cold climates are able to increase their freezing tolerance during exposure to low non-freezing temperatures. It has been shown that several genes are induced in a coordinated manner during this process of cold acclimation. The functional role of most of the corresponding cold-regulated proteins is not yet known. We summarize our knowledge of those cold-regulated proteins that are able to stabilize membranes during a freeze-thaw cycle. Special emphasis is placed on cryoprotectin, a lipid-transfer protein homologue that was isolated from cold-acclimated cabbage leaves and that protects isolated chloroplast thylakoid membranes from freeze-thaw damage.
Hincha
Dirk K
DK
Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany. hincha@mpimp-golm.mpg.de
D000064:Acclimatization; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005615:Freezing; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D059828:Plant Cells; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins