Among proteins that accumulate in plants in response to dehydrative fo
rces or low temperature, dehydrins (late embryogenesis abundant [Lea]
D11 family) have been the most commonly observed. Dehydrins are compos
ed of several typical domains joined together in a few characteristic
patterns, with numerous minor permutations. These domains include one
or more putative amphipathic alpha-helix forming consensus regions, a
phosphorylatable tract of Ser residues, and an N-terminal consensus se
quence. Lesser conserved domains are also present at various positions
, particularly between the putative alpha-helix forming domains, where
they may occur as tandem repeats. This medley of permutations is mirr
ored by a wide size range of dehydrin polypeptides from less than 100
to nearly 600 amino acid residues. As of yet, the fundamental biochemi
cal mode of action of dehydrins has not been demonstrated, but a numbe
r of immunolocalization and cell fractionation studies have establishe
d that dehydrins can be located in the nucleus or cytoplasm. Furthermo
re, it appears that these proteins associate with macromolecules rangi
ng from nucleoprotein complexes in the nucleus to an endomembrane shea
th in the cytoplasm. At present, all observations are consistent with
a hypothesis that dehydrins are surfactants capable of inhibiting the
coagulation of a range of macromolecules, thereby preserving structura
l integrity.