Progress in Research of Dehydrins

Dehydrins, which is known as a group of plant late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, usually accumulate in plant during late embryogenesis or under stresses which cause dehydration. They are hydrophilic proteins with high thermostability, characterized by three highly conserved domains, the K, Y, and S segments. According to the composition of the three conserved domains, there are five distinct types of dehydrins. Dehydrins can be translocated and present in different parts of plant cells. Their localization is related to the functions. Regulation of dehydrin gene expression occurs via ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways and is influenced by several environmental factors. They participate in the stabilization of cell membranes and many macromolecules against dehydration-induced injure. Researches in the structure, (loca-)(lization), transport, gene expression and regulation, as well as functions and mechanism of dehydrins have been made very great progress.