Accumulation of Dehydrin-like-proteins in the Mitochondria of Cold-treated Plants

A number of proteins have been found to accumulate in plants during cold tolerance. One class of cold proteins that is associated with cold tolerance acclimation is the glycine-rich, hydrophilic, D-II LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) proteins known as dehydrins. Several members of the dehydrin-class of proteins are known to associate with the nucleus, in the cytosol, and with the plasma membrane. Dehydrins that localise with the mitochondria have not been found. We provide evidence that two dehydrin-like proteins (dlps) accumulate in the mitochondria only after low temperature treatment. We also provide evidence for a positive correlation between the relative accumulation of these proteins in the mitochondria in response to cold stress and relative cold tolerance of several species of plants.