Poster: Lipids & Related Molecules
Abs #
865: Lipid transfer proteins : a genomic approach to establish their suggested roles in lipid trafficking and signaling
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Presenter: |
Kader, Jean-Claude , kader@ccr.jussieu.fr |
Authors | Kader, Jean-Claude (A) Guerbette, Françoise (A) Vergnolle, Chantal (A) Zachowski, Alain (A) | | Affiliations: |
(A): CNRS / University Paris 6 Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire , Paris, France
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| Web Site: | http://pcmp.snv.jussieu.fr | |
Proteins capable of transferring lipids between membranes in vitro have been purified from a wide range of living organisms.The best known proteins of this category in higher plants are lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) which are able to transfer several different phospholipids and to bind fatty acids and acyl-CoA esters. Plant LTPs form a very homogeneous class of proteins. They are small (7 or 9 kDa), abundant, stable and basic proteins that contain 8 cysteine residues. These proteins appear to have four alpha-helices and an internal cavity able to accommodate a whole phospholipid molecule. The expression pattern of LTP genes is characterized by a strong developmental, tissue and cell specificity and by an induction by environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures and salt or drought stresses. The functions of LTPs remained an enigma for years. It has been suggested that these proteins located in the cell wall can be involved in defense reactions against pathogens or in adaptation of plants to environmental factors. Recent investigations have established that an LTP is indeed implied in the signaling process linked to systemic acquired resistance and in the interactions between pathogenic fungi and the plant host, through binding of elicitins , small proteins secreted from the pathogen. LTPs have been also identified as one of the major allergens in various fruits, seeds or pollen grains. We are performing a systematic study of the genes coding for LTP-like proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana in order to elucidate the roles in planta of these fascinating proteins.
