Antifreeze proteins

[zeiffelz]

Hi, have some doubts about antifreeze proteins cos i just learnt about them, so am a beginner here.

Firstly, are there any other froms of antifreeze proteins, say creating a artificial, "fake" antifreeze proteins?

Then how do these antifreeze proteins actually help to retard or stop the forming of ice?

Thank you!

[Skye]

Where did you learn about them? I've only heard of sugars being used to prevent ice crystals forming.

[zeiffelz]

In school ..for the fake antifreeze proteins they have been used on some animals

[Skye]

Here's a site about them:

 

http://people.hofstra.edu/faculty/peter_c_daniel/Animal_Physiology/special_topics_fall2001/Temperature/arctic%20flounder/Website/

 

Basically they are glycoproteins (proteins with sugas molecules attached) that bind to the faces of ice crystals and prevent more water molecules from attaching and thus stop crystal growth.

[Tesseract]

Theres been alot of threads about antifreeze lately, its not even snowing where I am.

[daisy]

When I'm freezing down cells I use either glycerol or DMSO (Dimethylsulphoxide) to prevent ice crystal formation....hope that helps.