Folding and lipid composition determine membrane interaction of the disordered protein COR15A

Plants from temperate climates, such as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, are challenged with seasonal low temperatures that lead to increased freezing tolerance in fall in a process termed cold acclimation. Among other adaptations, this involves the accumulation of COld Regulated (COR) proteins, such as the intrinsically disordered chloroplast-localized protein COR15A. Together with its close homologue COR15B it stabilizes chloroplast membranes during freezing. COR15A folds into amphipathic α-helices in the presence of high concentrations of low-molecular-mass crowders or upon dehydration.

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