A carrot leucine-rich-repeat protein that inhibits ice recrystallization

Antifreeze protein activity in Arctic cryoconite bacteria

Fourteen Arctic bacterial strains belonging to five genera, Cryobacterium, Leifsonia, Polaromonas, Pseudomonas, and Subtercola isolated from sediments found in cryoconite holes of Arctic glaciers, were subjected to screening for antifreeze proteins (AFPs). Eight strains showed AFP activity, and six strains of four species were further characterized. Pseudomonas ficuserectae exhibited a high thermal hysteresis (TH) activity. Ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity was observed in most cultures at low protein concentration. Bacterial AFPs produced rounded shape of ice crystals that did not change their size and morphology within the TH window. Cry-g (P. ficuserectae) failed to inhibit ice recrystallization, indicating that the IRI activity of the AFPs does not relate to the strength of TH activity. SDS-PAGE analysis of the AFPs suggests their apparent molecular weights to be around 23 kDa. This study is significant as it screens several species of Arctic bacterial strains for AFP activity. So far, only one species of bacteria, Pseudomonas putida, was reported from the Arctic to produce AFPs. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis shows that the bacterial AFPs isolated belong to the AFP family IBP-1, which is known to have an important physiological role in the cold environment. AFPs of glacier cryoconite habitat have been discussed.

Functional characterisation of wheat Pgip genes reveals their involvement in the local response to wounding

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are cell wall leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins involved in plant defence. The hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum, genome AABBDD) genome contains one Pgip gene per genome. Tapgip1 (B genome) and Tapgip2 (D genome) are expressed in all tissues, whereas Tapgip3 (A genome) is inactive because of a long terminal repeat, Copia retrotransposon insertion within the coding region. To verify whether Tapgip1 and Tapgip2 encode active PGIPs and are involved in the wheat defence response, we expressed them transiently and analysed their expression under stress conditions. Neither TaPGIP1 nor TaPGIP2 showed inhibition activity in vitro against fungal polygalacturonases. Moreover, a wheat genotype (T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) lacking active homologues of Tapgip1 or Tapgip2 possesses PGIP activity. At transcript level, Tapgip1 and Tapgip2 were both up-regulated after fungal infection and strongly induced following wounding. This latter result has been confirmed in transgenic wheat plants expressing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene under control of the 5'-flanking region of Tdpgip1, a homologue of Tapgip1 with an identical sequence. Strong and transient GUS staining was mainly restricted to the damaged tissues and was not observed in adjacent tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that Tapgips and their homologues are involved in the wheat defence response by acting at the site of the lesion caused by pathogen infection.

Adaptation to seasonality and the winter freeze

Flowering plants initially diversified during the Mesozoic era at least 140 million years ago in regions of the world where temperate seasonal environments were not encountered. Since then several cooling events resulted in the contraction of warm and wet environments and the establishment of novel temperate zones in both hemispheres. In response, less than half of modern angiosperm families have members that evolved specific adaptations to cold seasonal climates, including cold acclimation, freezing tolerance, endodormancy, and vernalization responsiveness. Despite compelling evidence for multiple independent origins, the level of genetic constraint on the evolution of adaptations to seasonal cold is not well understood. However, the recent increase in molecular genetic studies examining the response of model and crop species to seasonal cold offers new insight into the evolutionary lability of these traits. This insight has major implications for our understanding of complex trait evolution, and the potential role of local adaptation in response to past and future climate change. In this review, we discuss the biochemical, morphological, and developmental basis of adaptations to seasonal cold, and synthesize recent literature on the genetic basis of these traits in a phylogenomic context. We find evidence for multiple genetic links between distinct physiological responses to cold, possibly reinforcing the coordinated expression of these traits. Furthermore, repeated recruitment of the same or similar ancestral pathways suggests that land plants might be somewhat pre-adapted to dealing with temperature stress, perhaps making inducible cold traits relatively easy to evolve.

LabVIEW-operated novel nanoliter osmometer for ice binding protein investigations

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs), including antifreeze proteins, ice structuring proteins, thermal hysteresis proteins, and ice recrystallization inhibition proteins, are found in cold-adapted organisms and protect them from freeze injuries by interacting with ice crystals. IBPs are found in a variety of organism, including fish¹, plants^{2, 3}, arthropods^{4, 5}, fungi⁶, and bacteria⁷. IBPs adsorb to the surfaces of ice crystals and prevent water molecules from joining the ice lattice at the IBP adsorption location. Ice that grows on the crystal surface between the adsorbed IBPs develops a high curvature that lowers the temperature at which the ice crystals grow, a phenomenon referred to as the Gibbs-Thomson effect. This depression creates a gap (thermal hysteresis, TH) between the melting point and the nonequilibrium freezing point, within which ice growth is arrested^8-10, see Figure 1. One of the main tools used in IBP research is the nanoliter osmometer, which facilitates measurements of the TH activities of IBP solutions. Nanoliter osmometers, such as the Clifton instrument (Clifton Technical Physics, Hartford, NY,) and Otago instrument (Otago Osmometers, Dunedin, New Zealand), were designed to measure the osmolarity of a solution by measuring the melting point depression of droplets with nanoliter volumes. These devices were used to measure the osmolarities of biological samples, such as tears¹¹, and were found to be useful in IBP research. Manual control over these nanoliter osmometers limited the experimental possibilities. Temperature rate changes could not be controlled reliably, the temperature range of the Clifton instrument was limited to 4,000 mOsmol (about -7.5 °C), and temperature recordings as a function of time were not an available option for these instruments.

We designed a custom-made computer-controlled nanoliter osmometer system using a LabVIEW platform (National Instruments). The cold stage, described previously^{9, 10}, contains a metal block through which water circulates, thereby functioning as a heat sink, see Figure 2. Attached to this block are thermoelectric coolers that may be driven using a commercial temperature controller that can be controlled via LabVIEW modules, see Figure 3. Further details are provided below. The major advantage of this system is its sensitive temperature control, see Figure 4. Automated temperature control permits the coordination of a fixed temperature ramp with a video microscopy output containing additional experimental details.

To study the time dependence of the TH activity, we tested a 58 kDa hyperactive IBP from the Antarctic bacterium Marinomonas primoryensis (MpIBP)¹². This protein was tagged with enhanced green fluorescence proteins (eGFP) in a construct developed by Peter Davies' group (Queens University)¹⁰. We showed that the temperature change profile affected the TH activity. Excellent control over the temperature profile in these experiments significantly improved the TH measurements. The nanoliter osmometer additionally allowed us to test the recrystallization inhibition of IBPs^{5, 13}. In general, recrystallization is a phenomenon in which large crystals grow larger at the expense of small crystals. IBPs efficiently inhibit recrystallization, even at low concentrations^{14, 15}. We used our LabVIEW-controlled osmometer to quantitatively follow the recrystallization of ice and to enforce a constant ice fraction using simultaneous real-time video analysis of the images and temperature feedback from the sample chamber¹³. The real-time calculations offer additional control options during an experimental procedure. A stage for an inverted microscope was developed to accommodate temperature-controlled microfluidic devices, which will be described elsewhere¹⁶.

Re-evaluation of a bacterial antifreeze protein as an adhesin with ice-binding activity

A novel role for antifreeze proteins (AFPs) may reside in an exceptionally large 1.5-MDa adhesin isolated from an Antarctic Gram-negative bacterium, Marinomonas primoryensis. MpAFP was purified from bacterial lysates by ice adsorption and gel electrophoresis. We have previously reported that two highly repetitive sequences, region II (RII) and region IV (RIV), divide MpAFP into five distinct regions, all of which require mM Ca²⁺ levels for correct folding. Also, the antifreeze activity is confined to the 322-residue RIV, which forms a Ca²⁺-bound beta-helix containing thirteen Repeats-In-Toxin (RTX)-like repeats. RII accounts for approximately 90% of the mass of MpAFP and is made up of ∼120 tandem 104-residue repeats. Because these repeats are identical in DNA sequence, their number was estimated here by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Structural homology analysis by the Protein Homology/analogY Recognition Engine (Phyre2) server indicates that the 104-residue RII repeat adopts an immunoglobulin beta-sandwich fold that is typical of many secreted adhesion proteins. Additional RTX-like repeats in RV may serve as a non-cleavable signal sequence for the type I secretion pathway. Immunodetection shows both repeated regions are uniformly distributed over the cell surface. We suggest that the development of an AFP-like domain within this adhesin attached to the bacterial outer surface serves to transiently bind the host bacteria to ice. This association would keep the bacteria within the upper reaches of the water column where oxygen and nutrients are potentially more abundant. This novel envirotactic role would give AFPs a third function, after freeze avoidance and freeze tolerance: that of transiently binding an organism to ice.

Cloning of galactinol synthase gene from Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and its expression in transgenic Photinia serrulata plants

A cold induced galactinol synthase gene (AmGS) and its promoter sequence were identified and cloned from the cold-tolerant tree Ammopiptanthus mongolicus by using cDNA-AFLP, RACE-PCR and TAIL-PCR strategies combined with its expression pattern analysis after cold inducing treatment. Accession number of the AmGS gene in GenBank is DQ519361. The open reading frame (ORF) region of the AmGS gene is 987 nucleotides encoding for 328 amino acid residues and a stop codon. The genomic DNA sequence of AmGS gene contains 3 exons and 2 introns. Moreover, a variety of temporal gene expression patterns of AmGS was detected, which revealed the up-regulation of AmGS gene in stresses of cold, ABA and others. Then the AmGS gene was transformed into Photinia serrulata tree by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and the transgenic plants exhibited higher cold-tolerance comparing with non-transformed plants.

Characterization of the ice-binding protein from Arctic yeast Leucosporidium sp. AY30

Previously, we reported the ice-binding protein (LeIBP) from the Arctic yeast Leucosporidium sp. AY30. In this study we provide physicochemical characterization of this IBP, which belongs to a class of IBPs that exhibited no significant similarity in primary structure to other known antifreeze proteins (AFPs). We compared native, glycosylated and non-glycosylated recombinant LeIBPs. Interestingly, size-exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation revealed that LeIBP self-associates with a reversible dimer with K(d) values in the range 3.45-7.24×10(-6) M. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that LeIBP, glycosylated or non-glycosylated, is predominantly composed of β-strand secondary structural elements (54.6%), similar to other β-helical antifreeze proteins (AFPs). In thermal hysteresis (TH) activity measurements, native LeIBP was twice more active (0.87 °C at 15 mg/mL) than that of the recombinant IBPs (0.43-0.42 °C at 10.8 mg/mL). This discrepancy is probably due to uncharacterized enhancing factors carried over during ice affinity purification, because glycosylated and non-glycosylated recombinant proteins displayed similarly low activity. Ice recrystallization inhibition (RI) activities of the native and recombinant LeIBPs were comparable. Measurements of CD, TH activity, and RI showed that glycosylation does not cause structural changes and is not required for function. An ice-etching experiment using green fluorescent protein-tagged IBP revealed that LeIBP binds, just as hyperactive AFPs, to both basal and pyramidal prism planes of the ice crystal. Taken together, our results indicate that LeIBP, structurally similar to hyperactive AFPs, is moderately active and that a reversible dimer has no effect on its activity.

Treating seeds with activators of plant defence generates long-lasting priming of resistance to pests and pathogens

• Priming of defence is a strategy employed by plants exposed to stress to enhance resistance against future stress episodes with minimal associated costs on growth. Here, we test the hypothesis that application of priming agents to seeds can result in plants with primed defences. • We measured resistance to arthropod herbivores and disease in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants grown from seed treated with jasmonic acid (JA) and/or β-aminobutryric acid (BABA). • Plants grown from JA-treated seed showed increased resistance against herbivory by spider mites, caterpillars and aphids, and against the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. BABA seed treatment provided primed defence against powdery mildew disease caused by the biotrophic fungal pathogen, Oidium neolycopersici. Priming responses were long-lasting, with significant increases in resistance sustained in plants grown from treated seed for at least 8 wk, and were associated with enhanced defence gene expression during pathogen attack. There was no significant antagonism between different forms of defence in plants grown from seeds treated with a combination of JA and BABA. • Long-term defence priming by seed treatments was not accompanied by reductions in growth, and may therefore be suitable for commercial exploitation.

Antifreeze protein from freeze-tolerant grass has a beta-roll fold with an irregularly structured ice-binding site

The grass Lolium perenne produces an ice-binding protein (LpIBP) that helps this perennial tolerate freezing by inhibiting the recrystallization of ice. Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are also produced by freeze-avoiding organisms to halt the growth of ice and are better known as antifreeze proteins (AFPs). To examine the structural basis for the different roles of these two IBP types, we have solved the first crystal structure of a plant IBP. The 118-residue LpIBP folds as a novel left-handed beta-roll with eight 14- or 15-residue coils and is stabilized by a small hydrophobic core and two internal Asn ladders. The ice-binding site (IBS) is formed by a flat beta-sheet on one surface of the beta-roll. We show that LpIBP binds to both the basal and primary-prism planes of ice, which is the hallmark of hyperactive AFPs. However, the antifreeze activity of LpIBP is less than 10% of that measured for those hyperactive AFPs with convergently evolved beta-solenoid structures. Whereas these hyperactive AFPs have two rows of aligned Thr residues on their IBS, the equivalent arrays in LpIBP are populated by a mixture of Thr, Ser and Val with several side-chain conformations. Substitution of Ser or Val for Thr on the IBS of a hyperactive AFP reduced its antifreeze activity. LpIBP may have evolved an IBS that has low antifreeze activity to avoid damage from rapid ice growth that occurs when temperatures exceed the capacity of AFPs to block ice growth while retaining the ability to inhibit ice recrystallization.

A ß-D: -xylosidase and a PR-4B precursor identified as genes accounting for differences in peach cold storage tolerance

A transcriptome analysis was applied on two peach (Prunus persica L.) cultivars with different sensitivity to low temperature regimes to identify genes that might be involved in tolerance to extended low temperature storage. Peach fruit from 'Morettini No2' to 'Royal Glory', cultivars sensitive and tolerant to chilling injury (CI), respectively, were harvested at commercial maturity stage and allowed to ripen at room temperature (shelf-life, 25°C) or subjected to 4 and 6 weeks of cold storage (0°C, 95% R.H.) followed by ripening at room temperature. The use of μPEACH 1.0 microarray platform identified a number of genes that were differentially expressed in 'Morettini No2' and 'Royal Glory' fruit after the extended storage period. Based on their possible involvement in physiological processes related to cold storage and on their differential expression pattern, two heat shock proteins, a β-D-xylosidase, an expansin, a dehydrin and a pathogenesis-related (PR) protein were further selected for detailed analysis via RNA blot analysis. It is suggested that β-D: -xylosidase and PR-4B precursor genes could be related to the different tolerance to CI observed in the two peach cultivars since generally higher expression levels were observed in cv. 'Royal Glory', the tolerant one. These two genes could play a role in peach tolerance to chilling injury.

Antifreeze protein in Antarctic marine diatom, Chaetoceros neogracile

The antifreeze protein gene (Cn-AFP) from the Antarctic marine diatom, Chaetoceros neogracile was cloned and characterized. The full-length Cn-AFP cDNA contained an open reading frame of 849 bp and the deduced 282 amino acid peptide chain encodes a 29.2 kDa protein, which includes a signal peptide of 30 amino acids at the N terminus. Both the Cn-AFP coding region with and without the signal sequence were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Recombinant Cn-AFPs were shown to display antifreeze activities based on measuring the thermal hysteresis and modified morphology of single ice crystals. Recombinant mature Cn-AFP showed 16-fold higher thermal hysteresis activity than that of pre-mature Cn-AFP at the same concentration. The ice crystal shape changed to an elongated hexagonal shape in the presence of the recombinant mature Cn-AFP, while single ice crystal showed a circular disk shape in absence of Cn-AFP. Northern analysis demonstrated a dramatic accumulation of Cn-AFP transcripts when the cells were subjected to freezing stress. This rapid response to freeze stress, and the antifreeze activity of recombinant Cn-AFPs, indicates that Cn-AFP plays an important role in low temperature adaptation.

Plant responses to cold: Transcriptome analysis of wheat

Temperature and light are important environmental stimuli that have a profound influence on the growth and development of plants. Wheat varieties can be divided on the basis of whether they require an extended period of cold to flower (vernalization). Varieties that have a requirement for vernalization also tend to be winter hardy and are able to withstand quite extreme subzero temperatures. This capacity, however, is not constitutive and plants require a period of exposure to low, non-freezing temperatures to acquire freezing tolerance: this process is referred to as cold acclimation. Cold acclimation and the acquisition of freezing tolerance require the orchestration of many different, seemingly disparate physiological and biochemical changes. These changes are, at least in part, mediated through the differential expression of many genes. Some of these genes code for effector molecules that participate directly to alleviate stress. Others code for proteins involved in signal transduction or transcription factors that control the expression of further banks of genes. In this review, we provide an overview of some of the main features of cold acclimation with particular focus on transcriptome reprogramming. In doing so, we highlight some of the important differences between cold-hardy and cold-sensitive varieties. An understanding of these processes is of great potential importance because cold and freezing stress are major limiting factors for growing crop plants and periodically account for significant losses in plant productivity.

Ice recrystallization inhibition proteins of perennial ryegrass enhance freezing tolerance

Ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) proteins are thought to play an important role in conferring freezing tolerance in plants. Two genes encoding IRI proteins, LpIRI-a and LpIRI-b, were isolated from a relatively cold-tolerant perennial ryegrass cv. Caddyshack. Amino acid alignments among the IRI proteins revealed the presence of conserved repetitive IRI-domain motifs (NxVxxG/NxVxG) in both proteins. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that LpIRI-a was up-regulated approximately 40-fold while LpIRI-b was up-regulated sevenfold after just 1 h of cold acclimation, and by 7 days of cold acclimation the transcripts had increased 8,000-fold for LpIRI-a and 1,000-fold for LpIRI-b. Overexpression of either LpIRI-a or LpIRI-b gene in Arabidopsis increased survival rates of the seedlings following a freezing test under both cold-acclimated and nonacclimated conditions. For example, without cold acclimation a -4 degrees C treatment reduced the wild type's survival rate to an average of 73%, but resulted in survival rates of 85-100% for four transgenic lines. With cold acclimation, a -12 degrees C treatment reduced the wild type's survival rate to an average of 38.7%, while it resulted in a survival rate of 51-78.5% for transgenic lines. After cold acclimation, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing either LpIRI-a or LpIRI-b gene exhibited a consistent reduction in freezing-induced ion leakage at -8, -9, and -10 degrees C. Furthermore, the induced expression of the LpIRI-a and LpIRI-b proteins in transgenic E. coli enhanced the freezing tolerance in host cells. Our results suggest that IRI proteins play an important role in freezing tolerance in plants.

Comparison of functional properties of two fungal antifreeze proteins from Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus and Typhula ishikariensis

Antifreeze proteins are structurally diverse polypeptides that have thermal hysteresis activity and have been discovered in many cold-adapted organisms. Of these, fungal antifreeze protein has been purified and partially characterized only in a species of psychrophilic basidiomycete, Typhula ishikariensis. Here we report a new fungal antifreeze protein from another psychrophile, Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus. We examined its biochemical properties and thermal hysteresis activity, and compared them with those of the T. ishikariensis antifreeze protein. The antifreeze protein from A. psychrotrophicus was purified and identified as an extracellular protein of approximately 28 kDa, which halved in size following digestion with glycosidase. The A. psychrotrophicus antifreeze protein generated bipyramidal ice crystals and exhibited thermal hysteresis activity (for example thermal hysteresis = 0.42 degrees C for a 0.48 mM solution) similar to that of fish antifreeze proteins, while a unique rugged pattern was created on the facets of the ice bipyramid. The thermal hysteresis activity of the A. psychrotrophicus antifreeze protein was maximized under alkaline conditions, while that of the T. ishikariensis antifreeze protein was greatest under acidic conditions. The T. ishikariensis antifreeze protein exhibited a bursting ice growth normal to the c-axis of the ice crystal and high thermal hysteresis activity (approximately 2 degrees C), as in the case of insect hyperactive antifreeze proteins. From these results, we speculate that the A. psychrotrophicus antifreeze protein is very different from the T. ishikariensis antifreeze protein, and that these two psychrophiles have evolved from different genes.

Molecular cloning, functional analysis and localization of a novel gene encoding polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein in Chorispora bungeana

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are plant defense proteins. To date, no spatial distribution of PGIPs and interaction between PGIPs and nitric oxide (NO) in plant were described. Here, we first reported the full-length cDNA sequence of PGIP of Chorispora bungeana (CbPGIP1). Notably, immunofluorescence localization showed that the CbPGIP was evenly distributed in leaves but it was mainly localized in epidermis and vascular bundle in stems and roots. Further studies indicated that CbPGIP had higher abundance in roots than in stems and leaves. Conversely, the bulk PGIP of C. bungeana showed a higher activity in leaves than in stems and roots. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that CbPGIP1 expression was induced by Stemphylium solani, salicylic acid (SA), 4, -4 degrees C and NO. This is a first report attempting to predict if NO can induce the PGIP expression. Taken together, these findings showed that the gene was spatially regulated and NO and SA might take part in CbPGIP1 expression induced by biotic and abiotic stresses. This study highlighted the potential importance of CbPGIP1 and NO in plant resistance.

Ice-structuring peptides derived from bovine collagen

Antifreeze proteins belonging to structurally diverse families of genetically coded proteins from several living organisms have been isolated and characterized in the past. This paper reports that collagen peptides of a certain molecular size range derived from Alcalase hydrolysis of bovine gelatin are able to inhibit recrystallization of ice in frozen ice cream mix as well as in frozen sucrose solutions in a manner similar to natural antifreeze proteins. The optimum conditions for producing such ice-structuring peptides (ISP) were hydrolysis at pH 9.0 for 30 min at 45 degrees C and an Alcalase-to-gelatin ratio of 0.176 unit per gram of gelatin. The collagen peptides were fractionated on size exclusion (Sephadex G-50) and ion exchange (sulfopropyl-Sephadex C-25) columns, and the molecular mass distribution of the ice-structuring peptide fractions was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The collagen peptide fractions in the molecular mass range of 600-2700 Da inhibited ice recrystallization in a supercooled ice cream mix and in concentrated sucrose solutions. The cationic collagen peptides within this fraction with molecular mass in the range of 1600-2400 Da were more effective than the anionic peptides in inhibiting ice crystal growth.

Polyampholytes as low toxic efficient cryoprotective agents with antifreeze protein properties

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been used for several decades as the most efficient cryoprotective agent (CPA) for many types of cells and tissues in spite of its cytotoxicity and its effects on differentiation. Here we report that polyampholytes with an appropriate ratio of amino and carboxyl groups show higher cryopreservation efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than DMSO. Culture medium solutions of epsilon-poly-L-lysine (PLL) with more than 50 mol% of amino groups carboxylated showed excellent post-thaw survival efficiency of 95% murine L929 cells, and rat mesenchymal stem cells fully retained the potential for differentiation without serum. We also found that carboxylated PLLs showed antifreeze protein properties, such as ice recrystallization inhibition, which may contribute to successful cryopreservation by membrane protection. Thus, these polyampholytes can replace DMSO as new materials for CPAs in various preserving functions and will also be useful in studies elucidating the mechanisms of cryopreservation.

Ice recrystallization inhibition proteins (IRIPs) and freeze tolerance in the cryophilic Antarctic hair grass Deschampsia antarctica E. Desv

Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica E. Desv.), the only grass indigenous to Antarctica, has well-developed freezing tolerance, strongly induced by cold acclimation. Here, we show that in response to low temperatures, D. antarctica expresses potent recrystallization inhibition (RI) activity that, inhibits the growth of small ice crystals into potentially damaging large ones, is proteinaceous and localized to the apoplasm. A gene family from D. antarctica encoding putative homologs of an ice recrystallization inhibition protein (IRIP) has been isolated and characterized. IRIPs are apoplastically targeted proteins with two potential ice-binding motifs: 1-9 leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and c. 16 'IRIP' repeats. IRIP genes appear to be confined to the grass subfamily Pooideae and their products, exhibit sequence similarity to phytosulphokine receptors and are predicted to adopt conformations with two ice-binding surfaces. D. antarctica IRIP (DaIRIP) transcript levels are greatly enhanced in leaf tissue following cold acclimation. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing a DaIRIP has novel RI activity, and purified DaIRIP, when added back to extracts of leaves from non-acclimated D. antarctica, can reconstitute the activity found in acclimated plants. We propose that IRIP-mediated RI activity may contribute to the cryotolerance of D. antarctica, and thus to its unique ability to have colonized Antarctica.

Identification of the ice-binding face of a plant antifreeze protein

The antifreeze protein of Lolium perenne, a perennial ryegrass, was previously modeled as a beta-roll with two extensive flat beta-sheets on opposite sides of the molecule. Here we have validated the model with a series of nine site-directed steric mutations in which outward-pointing short side-chain residues were replaced by tyrosine. None of these disrupted the fold. Mutations on one of the beta-sheets and on the sides of the protein retained 70% or greater activity. Three mutations that clustered on the other flat surface lost up to 90% of their antifreeze activity and identify this beta-sheet as the ice-binding face.

Ice-active proteins and cryoprotectants from the New Zealand alpine cockroach, Celatoblatta quinquemaculata

Celatoblatta quinquemaculata is moderately freezing tolerant. We have investigated low and high molecular weight compounds that may be associated with its survival. Glycerol and trehalose were identified as potential cryoprotectants, with trehalose at the higher concentration. Trehalose was at its highest concentration in late autumn, during the periods sampled. Water contents declined with time and were significantly lower in late autumn than in late summer. No thermal hysteresis activity was detected in haemolymph or in extracts of the head, muscles and the fat body. Extracts of the Malpighian tubules showed an hexagonal crystal growth form, as did those of the gut tissue and gut contents. The gut tissue had high levels of thermal hysteresis (approximately 2 degrees C) and the gut contents somewhat lower levels (approximately 0.6 degrees C). Recrystallization inhibition activity mirrored that of thermal hysteresis, with activity absent in the haemolymph or fat body cells but present in the gut tissues and contents. Activity was reduced by heating and was associated with a molecule >14kDa in size. These findings suggest an antifreeze protein is involved. In fed animals, ice nucleation is likely to start in the gut. Gut cells have a much greater resistance to freezing than do fat body or Malpighian tubule cells. The antifreeze protein may enable this tissue to survive freezing stress by inhibiting recrystallization.

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is a structural component of plant cell wall

It is generally believed that plants "evolved a strategy of defending themselves from a phytopathogen attack" during evolution. This metaphor is used frequently, but it does not facilitate understanding of the mechanisms providing plant resistance to the invasion of foreign organisms and to other unfavorable external factors, as well as the role of these mechanisms in plant growth and development. Information on processes involving one of the plant resistance factors--polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP)--is considered in this review. The data presented here indicate that PGIP, being an extracellular leucine-rich repeat-containing protein, performs important functions in the structure of plant cell wall. Amino acid residues participating in PGIP binding to homogalacturonan in the cell wall have been determined. The degree of methylation and the mode of distribution of homogalacturonan methyl groups are responsible for the formation of a complex structure, which perhaps determines the specificity of PGIP binding to pectin. PGIP is apparently one of the components of plant cell wall determining some of its mechanical properties; it is involved in biochemical processes related to growth, expansion, and maceration, and it influences plant morphology. Polygalacturonase (PG) is present within practically all plant tissues, but the manifestation of its activity varies significantly depending on physiological conditions in the tissue. Apparently, the regulation of PG functioning in apoplast significantly affects the development of processes associated with the modification of the structure of plant cell wall. PGIP can regulate PG activity through binding to homogalacturonan. The genetically determined structure of PGIP in plants determines the mode of its interaction with an invader and perhaps is one of the factors responsible for the set of pathogens causing diseases in a given plant species.

Characterization of resistance mechanism in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana containing Turnip crinkle virus coat protein

Two transgenic lines, of Nicotiana benthamiana expressing Turnip crinkle virus (TCV)-coat protein (CP) gene with contrasting phenotype, the highest (#3) and the lowest (#18) CP expressers, were selected and challenged with the homologous TCV. The former, the highest expresser, showed nearly five times more CP expression than the latter. Progenies of #3 and #18 lines showed 30 and 100% infection rates, respectively. The infected progenies of #3 line showed mild and delayed symptom with TCV. This is a coat protein-mediated resistance (CP-MR), and its resistance level is directly proportional to CP transgene expression. However, CP-MR of the transgenic plants was specific only for TCV but not for heterologous viruses. Newly growing leaves of those infected progenies of #3 line did not show any visible symptoms at 4-week post-inoculation (wpi) with TCV, suggesting a reversal from infection. This was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis with the disappearance of the target at 4 wpi. This is a case of RNA-mediated resistance, and a threshold level of transgene expression may be needed to achieve the silent state. To confirm the RNA silencing, we infiltrated Agrobacterium carrying TCV-CP into leaves of progenies of #3 and performed RT-PCR analysis. The results indicate that TCV-CP's suppressor activity against RNA silencing itself can be silenced by the homologous expression of TCV-CP in the transgenic plants. The transgenic plants containing TCV-CP seem to be a model system to study viral protection mediated by a combination of protein and RNA silencing.

Characterization of a family of ice-active proteins from the Ryegrass, Lolium perenne

Five genes coding for ice-active proteins were identified from an expressed sequence tag database of Lolium perenne cDNA libraries. Each of the five genes were characterized by the presence of an N-terminal signal peptide, a region enriched in hydrophilic amino acids and a leucine-rich region in four of the five genes that is homologous with the receptor domain of receptor-like protein kinases of plants. The C-terminal region of all five genes contains sequence homologous with Lolium and Triticum ice-active proteins. Of the four ice-active proteins (IAP1, IAP2, IAP3 and IAP5) cloned, three could be expressed in Escherichia coli and recovered in a functional form in order to study their ice activity. All three ice-active proteins had recrystallization inhibition activity but showed no detectable antifreeze or ice nucleation activity at the concentration tested. IAP2 and IAP5 formed distinct hexagonal-shaped crystals in the nanolitre osmometer as compared to the weakly hexagonal crystals produced by IAP3.

Tracking the evolution of a cold stress associated gene family in cold tolerant grasses

BACKGROUND

Grasses are adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions. Species of the subfamily Pooideae, which includes wheat, barley and important forage grasses, have evolved extreme frost tolerance. A class of ice binding proteins that inhibit ice re-crystallisation, specific to the Pooideae subfamily lineage, have been identified in perennial ryegrass and wheat, and these proteins are thought to have evolved from a leucine-rich repeat phytosulfokine receptor kinase (LRR-PSR)-like ancestor gene. Even though the ice re-crystallisation inhibition function of these proteins has been studied extensively in vitro, little is known about the evolution of these genes on the molecular level.

RESULTS

We identified 15 putative novel ice re-crystallisation inhibition (IRI)-like protein coding genes in perennial ryegrass, barley, and wheat. Using synonymous divergence estimates we reconstructed the evolution of the IRI-like gene family. We also explored the hypothesis that the IRI-domain has evolved through repeated motif expansion and investigated the evolutionary relationship between a LRR-domain containing IRI coding gene in carrot and the Pooideae IRI-like genes. Our analysis showed that the main expansion of the IRI-gene family happened ~36 million years ago (Mya). In addition to IRI-like paralogs, wheat contained several sequences that likely were products of polyploidisation events (homoeologs). Through sequence analysis we identified two short motifs in the rice LRR-PSR gene highly similar to the repeat motifs of the IRI-domain in cold tolerant grasses. Finally we show that the LRR-domain of carrot and grass IRI proteins both share homology to an Arabidopsis thaliana LRR-trans membrane protein kinase (LRR-TPK).

CONCLUSION

The diverse IRI-like genes identified in this study tell a tale of a complex evolutionary history including birth of an ice binding domain, a burst of gene duplication events after cold tolerant grasses radiated from rice, protein domain structure differentiation between paralogs, and sub- and/or neofunctionalisation of IRI-like proteins. From our sequence analysis we provide evidence for IRI-domain evolution probably occurring through increased copy number of a repeated motif. Finally, we discuss the possibility of parallel evolution of LRR domain containing IRI proteins in carrot and grasses through two completely different molecular adaptations.

A LTR copia retrotransposon and Mutator transposons interrupt Pgip genes in cultivated and wild wheats

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins involved in plant defence. Wheat pgip genes have been isolated from the B (Tapgip1) and D (Tapgip2) genomes, and now we report the identification of pgip genes from the A genomes of wild and cultivated wheats. By Southern blots and sequence analysis of BAC clones we demonstrated that wheat contains a single copy pgip gene per genome and the one from the A genome, pgip3, is inactivated by the insertion of a long terminal repeat copia retrotranspon within the fourth LRR. We demonstrated also that this retrotransposon insertion is present in Triticum urartu and all the polyploidy wheats assayed, but is absent in T. monococcum (Tmpgip3), suggesting that this insertion took place after the divergence between T. monococcum and T. urartu, but before the formation of the polyploid wheats. We identified also two independent insertion events of new Class II transposable elements, Vacuna, belonging to the Mutator superfamily, that interrupted the Tdipgip1 gene of T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides. The occurrence of these transposons within the coding region of Tdipgip1 facilitated the mapping of the Pgip locus in the pericentric region of the short arm of chromosome group 7. We speculate that the inactivation of pgip genes are tolerated because of redundancy of PGIP activities in the wheat genome.

Direct visualization of spruce budworm antifreeze protein interacting with ice crystals: basal plane affinity confers hyperactivity

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) protect certain organisms from freezing by adhering to ice crystals, thereby preventing their growth. All AFPs depress the nonequilibrium freezing temperature below the melting point; however AFPs from overwintering insects, such as the spruce budworm (sbw) are 10-100 times more effective than most fish AFPs. It has been proposed that the exceptional activity of these AFPs depends on their ability to prevent ice growth at the basal plane. To test the hypothesis that the hyperactivity of sbwAFP results from direct affinity to the basal plane, we fluorescently tagged sbwAFP and visualized it on the surface of ice crystals using fluorescence microscopy. SbwAFP accumulated at the six prism plane corners and the two basal planes of hexagonal ice crystals. In contrast, fluorescently tagged fish type III AFP did not adhere to the basal planes of a single-crystal ice hemisphere. When ice crystals were grown in the presence of a mixture of type III AFP and sbwAFP, a hybrid crystal shape was produced with sbwAFP bound to the basal planes of truncated bipyramidal crystals. These observations are consistent with the blockage of c-axial growth of ice as a result of direct interaction of sbwAFP with the basal planes.

Fluorescence microscopy evidence for quasi-permanent attachment of antifreeze proteins to ice surfaces

Many organisms are protected from freezing by the presence of extracellular antifreeze proteins (AFPs), which bind to ice, modify its morphology, and prevent its further growth. These proteins have a wide range of applications including cryopreservation, frost protection, and as models in biomineralization research. However, understanding their mechanism of action remains an outstanding challenge. While the prevailing adsorption-inhibition hypothesis argues that AFPs must bind irreversibly to ice to arrest its growth, other theories suggest that there is exchange between the bound surface proteins and the free proteins in solution. By conjugating green fluorescence protein (GFP) to a fish AFP (Type III), we observed the binding of the AFP to ice. This was accomplished by monitoring the presence of GFP-AFP on the surface of ice crystals several microns in diameter using fluorescence microscopy. The lack of recovery of fluorescence after photobleaching of the GFP component of the surface-bound GFP-AFP shows that there is no equilibrium surface-solution exchange of GFP-AFP and thus supports the adsorption-inhibition mechanism for this type of AFP. Moreover, our study establishes the utility of fluorescently labeled AFPs as a research tool for investigating the mechanisms underlying the activity of this diverse group of proteins.

Targeted expression of redesigned and codon optimised synthetic gene leads to recrystallisation inhibition and reduced electrolyte leakage in spring wheat at sub-zero temperatures

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) adsorb to ice crystals and inhibit their growth, leading to non-colligative freezing point depression. Crops like spring wheat, that are highly susceptible to frost damage, can potentially be made frost tolerant by expressing AFPs in the cytoplasm and apoplast where ice recrystallisation leads to cellular damage. The protein sequence for HPLC-6 alpha-helical antifreeze protein from winter flounder was rationally redesigned after removing the prosequences in the native protein. Wheat nuclear gene preferred amino acid codons were used to synthesize a recombinant antifreeze gene, rAFPI. Antifreeze protein was targeted to the apoplast using a Murine leader peptide sequence from the mAb24 light chain or retained in the endoplasmic reticulum using C-terminus KDEL sequence. The coding sequences were placed downstream of the rice Actin promoter and Actin-1 intron and upstream of the nopaline synthase terminator in the plant expression vectors. Transgenic wheat lines were generated through micro projectile bombardment of immature embryos of spring wheat cultivar Seri 82. Levels of antifreeze protein in the transgenic lines without any targeting peptide were low (0.06-0.07%). The apoplast-targeted protein reached a level of 1.61% of total soluble protein, 90% of which was present in the apoplast. ER-retained protein accumulated in the cells at levels up to 0.65% of total soluble proteins. Transgenic wheat line T-8 with apoplast-targeted antifreeze protein exhibited the highest levels of antifreeze activity and provided significant freezing protection even at temperatures as low as -7 degrees C.

Carrot Antifreeze Protein Does Not Exhibit the Polygalacturonase-inhibiting Activity of PGIP Family

The carrot (Daucus carota) antifreeze protein (DcAFP) has a strong antifreeze activity and identified as belonging to the plant polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) family based on its sequence similarities, including the presence of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motif. In this study, yeast two-hybrid technology was used to analyze whether the carrot AFP could act as a PGIP. The complete DcAFP and polygalacturonase (PGase; obtained from fungus Alternaria alternata by RT-PCR) coding sequences were cloned into the bait and capture vectors, respectively, and yeast two-hybrid assays were performed. The results revealed that there was no evidence of an interaction between DcAFP and PGase, which suggests that DcAFP probably lacks PGIP activity. An analysis of the electrostatic potential of DcAFP and other PGIPs revealed that a large number of nonconservative residues within the beta-helix of the DcAFP LRR motif had been substituted to basic amino acids, thus changing the surface from negative to positive. This will electrostatically prevent DcAFP from binding with the positively charged surface of PGase. This is the first report that showed the correlation between nonconservative amino acids within the LRR motif of the DcAFP and its loss of polygalacturonase inhibiting activity.

Stable transmission and transcription of newfoundland ocean pout type III fish antifreeze protein (AFP) gene in transgenic mice and hypothermic storage of transgenic ovary and testis

Here we describe the generation of transgenic mice carrying type III fish antifreeze protein (AFP) gene and evaluate whether AFP type III protects transgenic mouse ovaries and testes from hypothermic storage. AFPs exist in many different organisms. In fish, AFPs protect the host from freezing at temperatures below the colligative freezing point by adsorbing to the surface of nucleating ice crystals and inhibiting their growth. The transgenic expression of AFP holds great promise for conferring freeze-resistant plant and animal species. AFP also exhibits a potential for the cryopreservation of tissues and cells. In this study, we have generated 42 founder mice harboring the Newfoundland ocean pout (OP5A) type III AFP transgene and established one transgenic line (the line #6). This study demonstrated that AFP gene construct has been stably transmitted to the mouse progeny in the F3 generations in the line #6. Furthermore, the presence of AFP transcripts was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis on cDNAs from liver, kidney, ovarian, and testis tissues of the mouse from F3 generation in this line. These results indicate that ocean pout type III AFP gene could be integrated and transmitted to the next generation and stably transcribed in transgenic mice. In histological analysis of testis and ovarian tissues of nontransgenic control and AFP transgenic mice it has been shown that both tissues of AFP transgenic mice were protected from hypothermic storage (+4 degrees C). The AFP III transgenic mice obtained for the first time in this study would be useful for investigating the biological functions of AFP in mammalian systems and also its potential role in cryopreservation.

The characterization of the soybean polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (Pgip) gene family reveals that a single member is responsible for the activity detected in soybean tissues

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins that inhibit fungal endopolygalacturonases (PGs). They are encoded by multigene families whose members show functional redundancy and subfunctionalization for recognition of fungal PGs. In order to expand the information on the structure and functional features of legume PGIP, we have isolated and characterized four members of the soybean Pgip gene family and determined the properties of the encoded protein products. Sequence analysis showed that these genes form two clusters: one cluster of about 5 kbp containing Gmpgip1 and Gmpgip2, and the other containing Gmpgip3 and Gmpgip4 within a 60 kb fragment of a separate BAC clone. Sequence diversification of the four members resides mainly in the xxLxLxx region that includes residues forming the beta-sheet B1. When compared with other legume Pgip genes, Gmpgip3 groups with the bean genes Pvpgip1 and Pvpgip2, suggesting that these genes are closer to the ancestral gene. At the protein level, only GmPGIP3 shows the capability to inhibit fungal PGs. The spectrum of inhibition of GmPGIP3 against eight different fungal PGs mirrors that of the PGIP purified from soybean tissues and is similar to that of the bean PvPGIP2, one of the most efficient inhibitors so far characterized. We also report that the four Gmpgip genes are differentially regulated after wounding or during infection with the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Following fungal infection Gmpgip3 is up regulated promptly, while Gmpgip2 is delayed.

Insight into the binding of antifreeze proteins to ice surfaces via 13C spin lattice relaxation solid-state NMR

The primary sequences of type I antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are Ala rich and contain three 11-residue repeat units beginning with threonine residues. Their secondary structures consist of alpha-helices. Previous activity study of side-chain mutated AFPs suggests that the ice-binding side of type I AFPs comprises the Thr side chains and the conserved i + 4 and i + 8 Ala residues, where i indicates the positions of the Thrs. To find structural evidence for the AFP's ice-binding side, a variable-temperature dependent (13)C spin lattice relaxation solid-state NMR experiment was carried out for two Ala side chain (13)C labeled HPLC6 isoforms of the type I AFPs each frozen in H(2)O and D(2)O, respectively. The first one was labeled on the equivalent 17th and 21st Ala side chains (i + 4, 8), and the second one on the equivalent 8th, 19th, and 30th Ala side chains (i + 6). The two kinds of labels are on the opposite sides of the alpha-helical AFP. A model of Ala methyl group rotation/three-site rotational jump combined with water molecular reorientation was tested to probe the interactions of the methyl groups with the proximate water molecules. Analysis of the T(1) data shows that there could be 10 water molecules closely capping an i + 4 or an i + 8 methyl group within the range of van der Waals interaction, whereas the surrounding water molecules to the i + 6 methyl groups could be looser. This study suggests that the side of the alpha-helical AFP comprising the i + 4 and i + 8 Ala methyl groups could interact with the ice surface in the ice/water interface.

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) in plant defence: a structural view

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins are plant extracellular leucine-rich repeat proteins that specifically bind and inhibit fungal polygalacturonases. The interaction with PGIP limits the destructive potential of polygalacturonases and might trigger the plant defence responses induced by oligogalacturonides. A high degree of polymorphism is found both in PGs and PGIPs, accounting for the specificity of different plant inhibitors for PGs from different fungi. Here, we review the structural features and our current understanding of the PG-PGIP interaction.

Polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins: players in plant innate immunity?

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins that recognize and inhibit fungal polygalacturonases (PGs). The PG-PGIP interaction favours the accumulation of elicitor-active oligogalacturonides and causes the activation of defence responses. Small gene families encode PGIP isoforms that differ in affinity and specificity for PGs secreted by different pathogens. The consensus motif within the LRR structure of PGIPs is the same as that of the extracellular receptors of the plant innate immune system. Structural and functional evidence suggest that PGIPs are versatile proteins involved in innate immunity and that they are capable of recognizing different surface motifs of functionally related but structurally variable PGs.

Additional freeze hardiness in wheat acquired by exposure to -3 degreesC is associated with extensive physiological, morphological, and molecular changes

Cold-acclimated plants acquire an additional 3-5 degrees C increase in freezing tolerance when exposed to -3 degrees C for 12-18 h before a freezing test (LT50) is applied. The -3 degrees C treatment replicates soil freezing that can occur in the days or weeks leading to overwintering by freezing-tolerant plants. This additional freezing tolerance is called subzero acclimation (SZA) to differentiate it from cold acclimation (CA) that is acquired at above-freezing temperatures. Using wheat as a model, results have been obtained indicating that SZA is accompanied by changes in physiology, cellular structure, the transcriptome, and the proteome. Using a variety of assays, including DNA arrays, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 2D gels with mass spectroscopic identification of proteins, and electron microscopy, changes were observed to occur as a consequence of SZA and the acquisition of added freezing tolerance. In contrast to CA, SZA induced the movement of intracellular water to the extracellular space. Many unknown and stress-related genes were upregulated by SZA including some with obvious roles in SZA. Many genes related to photosynthesis and plastids were downregulated. Changes resulting from SZA often appeared to be a loss of rather than an appearance of new proteins. From a cytological perspective, SZA resulted in alterations of organelle structure including the Golgi. The results indicate that the enhanced freezing tolerance of SZA is correlated with a wide diversity of changes, indicating that the additional freezing tolerance is the result of complex biological processes.

Molecular characterization and origin of novel bipartite cold-regulated ice recrystallization inhibition proteins from cereals

To understand the molecular basis of freezing tolerance in plants, several low temperature-responsive genes have been identified from wheat. Among these are two genes named TaIRI-1 and TaIRI-2 (Triticum aestivum ice recrystallization inhibition) that are up-regulated during cold acclimation in freezing-tolerant species. Phytohormones involved in pathogen defense pathways (jasmonic acid and ethylene) induce the expression of one of the two genes. The encoded proteins are novel in that they have a bipartite structure that has never been reported for antifreeze proteins. Their N-terminal part shows similarity with the leucine-rich repeat-containing regions present in the receptor domain of receptor-like protein kinases, and their C-terminus is homologous to the ice-binding domain of some antifreeze proteins. The recombinant TaIRI-1 protein inhibits the growth of ice crystals, confirming its function as an ice recrystallization inhibition protein. The TaIRI genes were found only in the species belonging to the Pooideae subfamily of cereals. Comparative genomic analysis suggested that molecular evolutionary events took place in the genome of freezing-tolerant cereals to give rise to these genes with putative novel functions. These apparent adaptive DNA rearrangement events could be part of the molecular mechanisms that ensure the survival of hardy cereals in the harsh freezing environments.

A hyperactive, Ca2+-dependent antifreeze protein in an Antarctic bacterium

In cold climates, some plants and bacteria that cannot avoid freezing use antifreeze proteins (AFPs) to lessen the destructive effects of ice recrystallization. These AFPs have weak freezing point depression activity, perhaps to avoid sudden, uncontrolled growth of ice. Here, we report on an uncharacteristically powerful bacterial AFP found in an Antarctic strain of the bacterium, Marinomonas primoryensis. It is Ca(2+)-dependent, shows evidence of cooperativity, and can produce over 2 degrees C of freezing point depression. Unlike most AFPs, it does not produce obvious crystal faceting during thermal hysteresis. This AFP might be capable of imparting freezing avoidance to M. primoryensis in ice-covered Antarctic lakes. A hyperactive bacterial AFP has not previously been reported.

Expression, purification, and antifreeze activity of carrot antifreeze protein and its mutants

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) enable organisms to survive under freezing or sub-freezing conditions. AFPs have a great potential in the low temperature storage of cells, tissues, organs, and foods. This process will require a large number of recombinant AFPs. In the present study, the recombinant carrot AFP was highly expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3). The activity of the purified and refolded recombinant proteins was analyzed by measurement of thermal hysteresis (TH) activity and detection of in vitro antifreeze activity by measuring enhanced cold resistance of bacteria. Two carrot AFP mutants generated by site-directed mutagenesis were also expressed and purified under these conditions for use in parallel experiments. Recombinant DcAFP displayed a TH activity equivalent to that of native DcAFP, while mutants DcAFP-N130Q and rDcAFP-N130V showed 32 and 43% decreases in TH activity, respectively. Both the recombinant DcAFP and its mutants were able to enhance the cold resistance of bacteria, to degrees consistent with their respective TH activities.

Structure-function analysis of cf-9, a receptor-like protein with extracytoplasmic leucine-rich repeats

The tomato (Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium) resistance protein Cf-9 belongs to a large class of plant proteins with extracytoplasmic Leu-rich repeats (eLRRs). eLRR proteins play key roles in plant defense and development, mainly as receptor-like proteins or receptor-like kinases, conferring recognition of various pathogen molecules and plant hormones. We report here a large-scale structure-function analysis of an eLRR protein. A total of 66 site-directed mutants of Cf-9 were analyzed for activity in Avr9 recognition and for protein stability and the results interpreted with the help of a homology model of the Cf-9 structure. Conserved Trp and Cys pairs in the N-terminal LRR-flanking domain appear to be important for Cf-9 activity and are probably exposed at the putative concave inner surface of the Cf-9 protein, where recognition specificity also resides. Removal of each of the 22 putative N-linked glycosylation sites (PGS) revealed that many PGSs contribute to Cf-9 activity and that the PGSs in the putative alpha-helices of the LRR modules are essential. Immunoblot analysis and mass spectrometry showed that all but one of the PGSs are N-glycosylated. Introduction of glycosylation at the putative concave beta-sheet surface blocks Cf-9 activity, in some cases probably by disturbing specific recognition, and in another case by steric hindrance with existing N-glycans. The glycosylation pattern and several other features are conserved in other eLRR proteins, where similar mutations show similar phenotypes.