Determining the protective activity of IDPs under partial dehydration and freeze-thaw conditions

Abstract

Unlike for structured proteins, the study of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) requires selection of ad hoc assays and strategies to characterize their dynamic structure and function. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are important plant IDPs closely related to water-deficit stress response. Diverse hypothetical functions have been proposed for LEA proteins, such as membrane stabilizers during cold stress, oxidative regulators acting as ion metal binding molecules, and protein protectants during dehydration and cold/freezing conditions. Here we present two detailed protocols to characterize IDPs with potential protein/enzyme protection activity under partial dehydration and freeze-thaw treatments.