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Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences logoLink to Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
. 2002 Jul 29;357(1423):909–916. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2002.1079

Cryoprotectin: a plant lipid-transfer protein homologue that stabilizes membranes during freezing.

Dirk K Hincha 1
PMCID: PMC1693006  PMID: 12171654

Abstract

Plants from temperate and cold climates are able to increase their freezing tolerance during exposure to low non-freezing temperatures. It has been shown that several genes are induced in a coordinated manner during this process of cold acclimation. The functional role of most of the corresponding cold-regulated proteins is not yet known. We summarize our knowledge of those cold-regulated proteins that are able to stabilize membranes during a freeze-thaw cycle. Special emphasis is placed on cryoprotectin, a lipid-transfer protein homologue that was isolated from cold-acclimated cabbage leaves and that protects isolated chloroplast thylakoid membranes from freeze-thaw damage.

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Selected References

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