title: Genetic engineering for heat tolerance in plants.
abstract: High temperature tolerance has been genetically engineered in plants mainly by over-expressing the heat shock protein genes or indirectly by altering levels of heat shock transcription factor proteins. Apart from heat shock proteins, thermotolerance has also been altered by elevating levels of osmolytes, increasing levels of cell detoxification enzymes and through altering membrane fluidity. It is suggested that Hsps may be directly implicated in thermotolerance as agents that minimize damage to cell proteins. The other three above approaches leading to thermotolerance in transgenic experiments though operate in their own specific ways but indirectly might be aiding in creation of more reductive and energy-rich cellular environment, thereby minimizing the accumulation of damaged proteins. Intervention in protein metabolism such that accumulation of damaged proteins is minimized thus appears to be the main target for genetically-engineering crops against high temperature stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110 021 India.
authors.forename: Amanjot
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grover
keywords: Heat shock factors; Heat shock proteins; Protein metabolism; Thermotolerance; Transgenic plants