Strees Protein Formation: Gene Expression and Environmental Interaction with Evolutionary Significance

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the gene expression and environmental interaction with evolutionary significance for the stress protein formation. Specific changes in gene expression in response to environmental stresses are brought about by heat, chemical reagents, starvation, anoxia, and wounding. The alterations of gene activity have been observed in a wide range of eukaryote species. At the molecular level, the general stress response is a stimulation of the transcription of specific mRNAs and the repression of translation of normal mRNAs. This stimulation of transcription may require cytoplasmic factors as sources of information. Stress proteins are one of the few systems where a hostile environment mediates the synthesis of a select few polypeptides. Physiological function of stress protein production can be deduced from root anaerobiosis studies. The stress proteins possess alcohol dehydrogenase activity that can be useful in maintaining respiration under conditions where oxygen is limiting. The stress protein response illustrates that environmental parameters can exert a specific influence on gene expression through transcriptional and translational events.