Quantitative analysis of the ability of ice recrystallization inhibition of antifreeze protein

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K13760
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Green/Environmental chemistry
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Tsuda Sakae 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 生物プロセス研究部門, 上級主任研究員 (70211381)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 不凍 / タンパク質 / 氷 / 再結晶化 / 氷結晶結合 / 分子構造 / ナノスケール / 計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Numerous embryo single ice crystals are generated in water when it is frozen. They are progressing crystal growth and combined together to form a multi crystalline state, whose process is called ice recrystallization. Antifreeze protein (AFP) has a strong ability of ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) , while it has not been established an efficient method to analyze the IRI activity quantitatively. Here we developed a new method, which is different from the known splat cooling assay, to precisely evaluate IRI rate of AFP based on the equation (r3 = r3(0) + Kt) of the Ostwald Ripening. We also identified a new species of AFP (BpAFP) from righteye flounder that showed a strong IRI and thermal hysteresis activity in concentration-dependent manner.

Free Research Field

生化学、分子生物学、構造生物学、低温生物工学