Accumulation of dehydrin-like-proteins in the mitochondria of cold-treatedplants

A number of proteins have been found to accumulate in plants during cold to lerance. 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-clas s of proteins are known to associate with the nucleus, in the cytosol, and with the plasma membrane. Dehydrins that localise with the mirochondria hav e not been found. We provide evidence that two dehydrin-like proteins (dlps ) accumulate in the mitochondria only after low temperature treatment. We a lso provide evidence for a positive correlation between the relative accumu lation of these proteins in the mitochondria in response to cold stress and relative cold tolerance of several species of plants.