A cold-regulated Arabidopsis gene encodes a polypeptide having potent cryoprotective activity.

We previously showed that cor15, a cold-regulated gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a 15 kDa polypeptide designated COR15. Here we report that COR15 has potent cryoprotective activity in an in vitro cryoprotection assay. Specifically, COR15 was very effective in protecting the cold-labile enzyme lactate dehydrogenase against freeze-inactivation; on a concentration basis, it was about 10(6) times more effective than sucrose and 10(2)-10(3) times more effective than other proteins including bovine serum albumin. The possible role of cor15 in cold acclimation is discussed.