Abstract:
A cDNA clone Capsicum annUl/ill small Heat shock protein (CasH.lp) was isolated from high
temperature-stressed hot pepper plants. This gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a small
Heat shock protein (sHsp) of 159 amino acids. CasHsp has an ACD-ScHsp26 domain. Phylogenetic
analysis based on the deduced amino acid sequence of Casllsp cDNA revealed significant sequence
similarity (94.8%) to the Capsicum [rutescens sHsp. TIle putative protein hydrophilic by nature. encoded
by CaxHsp also shared 88.1 % homology with a sHsp of Nirotiana tabacum, 84.3% homology with sHsp
of Yitis vinifera and 79.9% homology with sHsp of Arubidopsis thaliana. Transcripts were preferentially
induced in response to high temperature and water deficit. This demonstrates that high temperature
induces a small Heat shock protein from hot pepper.
