Low-temperature adaptation and cryoprotection were studied in Leuconostoc mesenteroides SYl, a strain isolated from Kimchi. L. mesenteroides SY1 cells grown in exponential growth phase at $30^{circ}C$ were exposed to $15^{circ}C,;10^{circ}C$, and $5^{circ}C$ for 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively, and then frozen at $- 70^{circ}C$ for 24 h. Survival ratio was measured after the cells were thawed. The freezing-thawing cycles were repeated four times. Preadapted cells survived better than non-adapted control cells, and the highest survival ratio ($96\%$) was observed for cells preadapted for 2 h at $5^{circ}C$, whereas control cells showed only $22\%$. The 2D gel showed that two proteins (spots A and B) were induced in cells preadapted at lower temperatures. Spots A and B have the same molecular weight (7 kDa), but the pI was 4.6 for spot A and 4.3 for spot B. The first 29 and 15 amino acid sequences from spots A and B were determined, and they were identical, except for one amino acid. A csp gene was cloned, and nucleotide sequencing confirmed that the gene encoded spot A cold shock protein.