ANALYSIS OF AN ABA-INDUCIBLE AND OSMOTIC STRESS-INDUCIBLE DEHYDRIN FROM STELLARIA LONGIPES

A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone encoding an ABA or osmotic-stress-ind ucible protein of Stellaria longipes was isolated and sequenced. North ern blot analysis showed that the expression of the corresponding gene was induced by treatments of ABA, PEG or drought but not by flooding. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited overall structural similari ty to the ABA- or osmotic stress-inducible proteins, especially dehydr ins, from other plants. Sequence analysis indicated that the deduced p rotein may belong to a group of plant dehydrins. The S. longipes dehyd rin shared some similarity in structural features with dehydrins of ot her plants and also exhibited certain unique characteristics.