LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant) proteins and their encoding genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Abstract
LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) proteins have first been described about 25 years ago as accumulating late in plant seed development. They were later found in vegetative plant tissues following environmental stress and also in desiccation tolerant bacteria and invertebrates. Although they are widely assumed to play crucial roles in cellular dehydration tolerance, their physiological and biochemical functions are largely unknown.