Abstract
Alterations in membrane structure and function occurring in cold acclimation are essential for cell survival under freezing stress since the plasma membrane is the primary site of freezing injury in plants. We previously identified a number of plasma membrane proteins in Arabidopsis that have altered in response to cold acclimation. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the functional roles of a lipocalin-like protein, one of the cold-response plasma membrane proteins. Effects of the lipocalin-like protein on the freezing tolerance and the occurrence of freeze-induced lesions of Arabidopsis were determined in planta with transgenic plants that overexpress the gene encoding the protein. Freezing tolerance of leaves and protoplasts of the non-acclimated transgenic plants was improved compared with that of wild type plants. Furthermore, there seemed to be a difference in the occurrence of freeze-induced lesions of protoplasts in the transgenic and the wild type plants (Supported by BRAIN).
