Inspite of the large amount of low molecular weight heat shock protein (LMW HSP) present in plant, its function has still not been clearly known. Understanding the distribution and movement of LMW HSP in cells could provide useful information about its biological functions. A 14 kD HSP was purified from the microsome isolated from the bean of a highly thermotolerant plant Phaseolus vulgaris. Antiserum against this protein was preparaed. The localization of the protein in the cell was analysed by means of electromicroscopic immunogold labelling method. The images of electromicrograph showed that 14 kD HSP mainly existed in both cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum and that no labelled gold was found in tonoplasma, mitochondria or cell wall.
