InterPro domain: IPR004926

This entry represents Pfam LEA_3, or LEA5 (D-73) from Dure. Proteins in this entry includes LEA-5 from Citrus sinensis [ 1 ], whose expression is induced by salt, drought and heat stress [ 2 ]. This entry also includes At4g02380 (SAG21), At1g02820 (LEA2), At3g53770 (LEA37) and At4g15910 (LEA41) from Arabidopsis [ 3 ].

LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) proteins were first identified in land plants. Plant LEA proteins have been found to accumulate to high levels during the last stage of seed formation (when a natural desiccation of the seed tissues takes place) and during periods of water deficit in vegetative organs. Later, LEA homologues have also been found in various species [ 4 , 5 ]. They have been classified into several subgroups in Pfam and according to Bray and Dure [ 6 ].

1. Cotton Lea5 and Lea14 encode atypical late embryogenesis-abundant proteins. Plant Physiol. 101, 695-6
2. Drought, heat and salt stress induce the expression of a citrus homologue of an atypical late-embryogenesis Lea5 gene. Plant Mol. Biol. 27, 619-22
3. The ubiquitous distribution of late embryogenesis abundant proteins across cell compartments in Arabidopsis offers tailored protection against abiotic stress. Plant Cell 26, 3148-66
4. LEA proteins during water stress: not just for plants anymore. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 73, 115-34
5. Highly hydrophilic proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes are common during conditions of water deficit. J. Biol. Chem. 275, 5668-74
6. LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) proteins and their encoding genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. BMC Genomics 9, 118