Sequence and Expression of a HSP83 from Arabidopsis thaliana

A full-length cDNA encoding a heat shock protein (hsp) belonging to the 83 to 90 kilodalton hsp family of Arabidopsis thaliana has been isolated and sequenced. Truncated cDNA clones were isolated by nucleic acid hybridization to a truncated soybean HSP83 cDNA probe and a fragment generated from a Drosophila HSP83 gene. A single strand DNA vector/primer based extension procedure was employed to obtain the full-length cDNA. The level of transcripts homologous to this cDNA (AtHS83) is low in 2-week-old Arabidopsis plants but is rapidly enhanced by elevated temperatures. DNA sequence comparison between this cDNA and hsp83-90 sequences from human, yeast and Drosophila reveal amino acid identities of 63 to 69%, typical identities for interspecies comparisons between hsp83 to 90 kilodalton proteins. Genomic DNA blot analysis performed with probes derived from AtHS83 indicate the presence of a HSP83 gene family estimated to be comprised of at least three genes.