Hsp17.8 exists as dimers at normal physiological conditions and in association with chloroplasts. A and B, BN-polyacrylamide gel analysis of Hsp17.8:HA. A, Protein extracts from protoplasts transformed with HSP17.8:HA were separated by BN-PAGE using a 4% to 16% gradient gel and analyzed by western blotting using anti-HA antibody. In addition, protein extracts from protoplasts subjected to heat shock at 42°C for 30 min were included in the analysis. The membrane was stained with Coomassie blue. NT, Extracts from nontransformed protoplasts; N, normal condition; H, heat shock condition. B, Intact chloroplasts were purified from protoplasts transformed with HSP17.8:HA, and proteins that copurified with chloroplasts were separated by BN-PAGE and analyzed by western blotting using anti-HA antibody. The membrane was stained with Coomassie blue. NT, Protein extracts from nontransformed protoplasts; CH, proteins from purified chloroplasts. C, Dimer formation of His:Hsp17.8 in E. coli extracts. His:Hsp17.8 purified from E. coli extracts was separated by BN-PAGE and analyzed by western blotting using anti-His antibody.