title: Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding the major hsp70 of the pea chloroplastic stroma.
abstract: The 70-kD heat shock proteins (hsp70s) are a group of ubiquitous, highly conserved molecular chaperones that have been implicated in a variety of processes, ranging from DNA replication to protein folding and transport. To learn more about the evolution and possible functions of higher plant chloroplastic hsp70s, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding the major stromal hsp70 of pea chloroplasts, which we term CSS1 (Chloroplastic Stress Seventy). This cDNA clone encodes a 75,490-D protein that is very closely related to an hsp70 from the cyanobacterium, Synechocystis. CSS1 is nuclear encoded and synthesized as a higher molecular mass precursor with a chloroplastic transit peptide approximately 65 amino acids long. CSS1 mRNA was detected in RNA samples from leaves and roots of pea (Pisum sativum) plants grown at 18 degrees C but increased 9- and 6-fold, respectively, after brief exposure of the plants to elevated temperature. We discuss the possible role(s) of CSS1 in chloroplastic protein transport and other processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keegstra