LEA proteins prevent protein aggregation due to water stress

LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) proteins in both plants and animals are associated with tolerance to water stress resulting from desiccation and cold shock. However, although various functions of LEA proteins have been proposed, their precise role has not been defined. Recent bioinformatics studies suggest that LEA proteins might behave as molecular chaperones, and the current study was undertaken to test this hypothesis. Recombinant forms of AavLEA1, a group 3 LEA protein from the anhydrobiotic nematode Aphelenchus avenae, and Em, a group 1 LEA protein from wheat, have been subjected to functional analysis. Heat-stress experiments with citrate synthase, which is susceptible to aggregation at high…

• NU
  National University of Ireland
• LT
  Leverhulme Trust
• NU
  National University of Ireland, Maynooth
• IN
  Isaac Newton Trust
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• PC
  Pembroke College, University of Cambridge