Dehydrins and their roles in plant tolerance to temperature stresses

Abiotic Stresses are one of the most important reasons of the reduction in crop production. As plants are sessile, changes in expression, accumulation and synthesis of proteins along with other cell metabolism modifications help for keeping their stability and establishment of acclimation. Dehydrin proteins (also known as group 2 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins) are produced in a large group of organisms and in different cell parts in response to low temperature and drought stresses. DHNs are characterized by three highly conserved domains known as the K, Y, and S segments. The number and order of the Y, S and K segments define different DHN subclasses: YnSKn, YnKn, SKn, Kn, and KnS and for everyone is suggested specific function. Although the exact function of dehydrins is still unclear, they function as cryoprotectants proteins, osmoregulators, radical scavengers, chaperones and roller in binding to membrane lipids and metals. Here, we summarize the types and roles of plant dehydrins in response to temperature stresses