[1][2][3] LEA proteins were initially discovered accumulating late in embryogenesis of cotton seeds.
[4] Although abundant in seeds and pollens, LEA proteins have been found to protect against desiccation, cold, or high salinity in a variety of organisms, including the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Artemia (brine shrimp), and rotifers.
[5][6][2] LEA proteins function by mechanisms which are distinct from those displayed by heat shock molecular chaperones.
[1] Although the causes of LEA protein induction have not yet been determined, conformational changes in transcription factors or integral membrane proteins due to water loss have been suggested.
[7] LEA proteins are particularly protective of mitochondrial membranes against dehydration damage.