Knockdown of Ice-Binding Proteins in Brachypodium distachyon Demonstrates Their Role in Freeze Protection.

ABSTRACT: Sub-zero temperatures pose a major threat to the survival of cold-climate perennials. Some of these freeze-tolerant plants produce ice-binding proteins (IBPs) that offer frost protection by restricting ice crystal growth and preventing expansion-induced lysis of the plasma membranes. Despite the extensive in vitro characterization of such proteins, the importance of IBPs in the freezing stress response has not been investigated. Using the freeze-tolerant grass and model crop, Brachypodium distachyon, we characterized putative IBPs (BdIRIs) and generated the first 'IBP-knockdowns'. Seven IBP sequences were identified and expressed in Escherichia coli, with all of the recombinant proteins demonstrating moderate to high levels of ice-recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity, low levels of

SUBMITTER: Bredow M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5154533 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature