The expression of heat-shock genes in higher plants

Abstract

High-temperature stress or heat shock induces the vigorous synthesis of heat-shock proteins in many organisms including the higher plants. This response has been implicated in the acquisition of thermotolerance. The biological importance of a group of low-molecular-mass proteins in the response of plants is indicated by the conservation of the corresponding genes. The steady-state levels of mRNAs for these proteins shift from undetectable levels at normal temperature to about 20 000 molecules per gene in the cell after heat shock. The analysis of ‘run-off’ transcripts from isolated soybean nuclei suggests a transcriptional control of gene expression. The DNA sequence analysis of soybean heat-shock genes revealed a conservation of promoter sequences and 5'-upstream elements. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of polypeptides showed a conservation of structural features in heat-shock proteins between plants and animals. The implication of a common regulatory concept in the heat-shock response makes genes belonging to this family (15-18 kDa proteins) in soybean favourable candidates for investigating thermoregulation of transcription. We have exploited the natural gene transfer system ofAgrobacterium tumefaciensto introduce a soybean heat-shock gene into the genomes of sunflower and tobacco. The gene is thermoinducibly transcribed and transcripts are faithfully initiated in transgenic plants. Experiments are in progress to define the regulatory sequences 5'-upstream from the gene. The expression of heat-shock genes in a heterologous genetic background also provides the basis for studying the function of the proteins and their possible role in thermoprotection.