The use of Group 3 LEA proteins as fusion partners in facilitating recombinant expression of recalcitrant proteins in E. coli.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are intrinsically disordered proteins that accumulate in organisms during the development of dehydration stress tolerance and cold acclimation. Group 3 LEA proteins have been implicated in the prevention of cellular protein denaturation and membrane damage during desiccation and anhydrobiosis. We tested the ability of LEA proteins to facilitate recombinant expression of recalcitrant and intrinsic membrane proteins.

Brassica napus possesses an expanded set of polygalacturonase inhibitor protein genes that are differentially regulated in response to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection, wounding and defense hormone treatment.

Most plants encode a limited set of polygalacturonase inhibitor (PGIP) genes that may be involved in aspects of plant development, but more importantly in the inactivation of polygalacturonases (PG) secreted by pathogens. Previously, we characterized two Brassica napus PGIP genes, BnPgip1 and BnPgip2, which were differentially expressed in response to pathogen infection and wounding. Here we report that the B.

Molecular characterization of Brassica napus NAC domain transcriptional activators induced in response to biotic and abiotic stress.

Subtractive expressed sequence tag analysis and screening of cDNA libraries derived from Brassica napus leaves subjected to mechanical wounding, flea beetle feeding or cold temperatures revealed eight genes encoding NAC-domain transcription factors. The genes were found to be differentially regulated in response to biotic and abiotic stresses including wounding, insect feeding, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection, cold shock and dehydration. Five BnNAC proteins were orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana ATAF1 or ATAF2 and gave rise to developmental abnormalities similar to the A.

Effects of co-expressing the plant CDK inhibitor ICK1 and D-type cyclin genes on plant growth, cell size and ploidy in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) plays a crucial role in regulating the cell cycle of eukaryotic organisms including plants. From previous studies, it is known that ICK1, the first plant CDK inhibitor identified in Arabidopsis plants, interacts with Arath;CycD3;1 (CycD3) and Arath;CDKA;1 (Cdc2a). Overexpression of ICK1 has major effects on cell division, plant growth, and morphology.