Bioinformatics analysis of LEA proteins involved in drought stress tolerance in oilseed crops and Arabidopsis thaliana

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play crucial roles in lipid accumulation and plant defense under drought stress. We performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of LEA protein sequences across oilseed species and examined their expression dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana. Protein properties, conserved motifs, subcellular localization, and interaction networks were characterized using UniProt, MEME, SMART, WoLF PSORT, and STRING databases, alongside 3D structural modeling. Our results revealed that most LEA proteins possess high surface charge and hydrophilic, intrinsically disordered domains, supporting their role in cellular protection. Nuclear localization and motif conservation suggest regulatory functions, while interaction analyses showed strong associations with heat shock proteins (HSPs), heat shock factors (HSFs), and seed storage proteins such as CRU3 and SESA. Expression profiling indicated rapid induction of LEA genes following cold and drought stress, with elevated levels during key developmental stages including seed, leaf, cotyledon, and flower formation. The LEA gene expression peaks between 12 and 24 hours after cold stress in stems and within the first hour after drought onset. These findings underscore the multifunctional nature of LEA proteins in stress adaptation and reproductive success, offering v.aluable insights for improving oilseed resilience through targeted genetic strategies