Research group Pia Harryson's research group
The Harryson group investigates the molecular function of the dehydrins, a class of structurally disordered stress proteins that are induced under drought, cold or high salt content in soils, to broaden our understanding of how plants adapt to altered environmental conditions.
Group description
Structural and functional studies of the intrinsically disordered dehydrin plant stress proteins
Sudden temperature changes and vanishing supply of water present major challenges to plant growth, productivity and the survival of life on our planet. This project investigates the biological and molecular function of the dehydrins, a class of disordered stress proteins that are induced under drought, cold or high salt content in soils, to broaden our understanding of how plants adapt to altered environmental conditions. The approach is based on a combination of biochemical studies and biophysical analysis of structural properties in vitro.
Dehydrins are highly expressed under conditions of desiccation and cold stress. Their molecular function in ensuring plant survival is not yet known, but several studies suggest their involvement in membrane stabilisation or as chaperones. The dehydrins are characterised by a broad repertoire of conserved and repetitive amino acid sequences, out of which the archetypical K-segment has been implicated in membrane binding.
Group members
Group managers
Pia Harryson
Researcher
