Abstract:

Heat shock cognate proteins 70 (hsp70s) act as molecular chaperones. Some hsp70s are also expressed in unstressed plants, known as hsc70. To gain further knowledge about the hsc70, the Thellungiella halophila hsc70 (Thhsc70) gene that encoded the cytosolic hsc70 in salt cress (T. halophila (C. A. Mey.) O. E. Schulz) was identified. In unstressed plants the expression of Thhsc70 was shown to be tissue-specific. The Thhsc70 gene was induced by heat and cold stresses, but almost not by salt and drought stresses. Overexpression of Thhsc70 could increase thermotolerance and chilling tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.

Key words: heat shock cognate proteins 70, heat stress, molecular chaperone, Thellungiella halophila