The multifunctionality of dehydrins: An overview

Abstract

Dehydrins are highly hydrophilic proteins that accumulate during embryogenesis and water stress responses in plants. Although dehydrins were discovered in the 1980s, their physiological functions are unknown. However, recent molecular-based studies have provided insights into the multifunctionality of dehydrins. The functional versatility of dehydrins is reviewed using recent experimental evidence, and perspectives in the functional studies of dehydrins are also discussed.for various purposes in the fields of agriculture, biotechnology, ecology and industry.

Multiple Subcellular Localizations of Dehydrin-like Proteins in the Embryonic Axes of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Seeds During Maturation and Dry Storage

“…1). Dehydrins are a multifamily of plant proteins related to embryogenesis, and they accumulate under water stress conditions (Rorat 2006;Battaglia and others 2008;Hara 2010;Battaglia and Covarrubias 2013). Preferential hydration of diverse molecules and water replacement in dehydrated cells is performed by dehydrins to maintain structural stabilization (Hoekstra and others 2001), including during the development and maturation of seeds (Panza and others 2007).…”

“…Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, including dehydrins, are hydrophilic molecules accumulated during development and water stress (reviewed in Rorat 2006;Battaglia and others 2008;Hara 2010;Battaglia and Covarrubias 2013). Dehydrins, group 2 of the LEA proteins, are characterized by highly conserved sequences, including a lysine-rich K-segment, a polyserine S-segment, a Y-segment, and a U-segment (Close 1996).…”

“…Dehydrins are synthesized during seed development as an element of the embryogenesis program, and their accumulation is related to the acquisition of desiccation tolerance (Close 1996;Kalemba and others 2009). The structural and functional characteristics of LEA proteins are being investigated to understand their role during the adaptive response to water deficit in plants (Rorat 2006;Battaglia and others 2008;Hara 2010;Battaglia and Covarrubias 2013). LEA proteins can prevent protein aggregation (Goyal and others 2005) and protect cellular macromolecules and membranes under cellular dehydration (Rorat 2006;Battaglia and others 2008;Hara 2010;Battaglia and Covarrubias 2013).…”

“…The structural and functional characteristics of LEA proteins are being investigated to understand their role during the adaptive response to water deficit in plants (Rorat 2006;Battaglia and others 2008;Hara 2010;Battaglia and Covarrubias 2013). LEA proteins can prevent protein aggregation (Goyal and others 2005) and protect cellular macromolecules and membranes under cellular dehydration (Rorat 2006;Battaglia and others 2008;Hara 2010;Battaglia and Covarrubias 2013). The proteins may exhibit radical scavenging activity (Hara and others 2004) and act as membrane and protein stabilizers during water stress either by direct interaction or by acting as molecular shields (Tunnacliffe and Wise 2007).…”

C-Repeat Binding Factor and Dehydrin Genes are Induced Co-Ordinately in Drought Tolerance Response of Wheat Cultivars

“…Along with alleviation of consequences of freezing stress, transcriptional activation of some dehydrin genes was also noted in the transgenic barley lines. Dehydrins are protective proteins against cellular damage in freezing and osmotic stress with multiple ways of functioning (Battaglia et al, 2008;Hara, 2010), complementing other molecular defences (Hegedűs et al, 2004) activated by these stress factors. Fifty-four wheat genes have been selected as candidates for coding dehydrins, most of them induced by dehydration (Wang et al, 2014).…”