Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
09:32
LabVIEW-operated Novel Nanoliter Osmometer for Ice Binding Protein Investigations
Published on: February 4, 2013
A hyperactive, Ca2+-dependent antifreeze protein in an Antarctic bacterium
Jack A Gilbert1, Peter L Davies, Johanna Laybourn-Parry
1Department of Biochemistry and the Protein Engineering Network of Centres of Excellence, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., Canada K7L 3N6.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|March 31, 2005
Summary
Researchers discovered a potent antifreeze protein (AFP) in Antarctic bacteria. This novel AFP offers significant freezing point depression, aiding survival in extreme cold.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Cryobiology
Background:
- Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) protect organisms in cold climates by inhibiting ice recrystallization.
- Most known AFPs exhibit limited freezing point depression activity.
- Bacterial AFPs are crucial for survival in sub-zero environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a novel, highly active antifreeze protein from an Antarctic bacterium.
- To investigate the properties and potential function of this uncharacteristically powerful bacterial AFP.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and purification of the AFP from Marinomonas primoryensis.
- Assessment of freezing point depression activity and thermal hysteresis.
- Analysis of calcium ion (Ca2+) dependency and cooperativity.
Main Results:
- A novel bacterial AFP from M. primoryensis demonstrates significant freezing point depression (>2°C).
- This AFP is calcium-dependent and exhibits cooperative binding.
- Unlike typical AFPs, it does not induce pronounced ice crystal faceting.
Conclusions:
- This hyperactive bacterial AFP represents a new class of cryoprotective agents.
- The AFP likely enables M. primoryensis to survive in sub-zero Antarctic lake environments.
- Further research into this potent AFP could have applications in cryopreservation and biotechnology.
More Related Videos
08:46Determining the Ice-binding Planes of Antifreeze Proteins by Fluorescence-based Ice Plane Affinity
Published on: January 15, 2014
09:43Identification of Plant Ice-binding Proteins Through Assessment of Ice-recrystallization Inhibition and Isolation Using Ice-affinity Purification
Published on: May 5, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:23Antimicrobial Proteins
Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
01:27Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature
Microorganisms display remarkable adaptations, enabling them to thrive in diverse ecological niches across a wide range of temperatures. Temperature profoundly influences microbial growth by affecting enzymatic activity, membrane fluidity, and other cellular processes.Each microorganism operates within a specific temperature range defined by three cardinal points: minimum, optimum, and maximum. Below the minimum temperature, membranes lose fluidity, halting transport processes. Above the...
01:21Hyperthermophilic Bacteria
Domain Bacteria includes some unique hyperthermophilic species. They exhibit remarkable adaptations that enable survival in extreme environments.Thermotoga species are rod-shaped, gram-negative, non-sporulating hyperthermophiles that form a sheath-like envelope called a toga. They ferment sugars or starch, producing lactate, acetate, CO₂, and H₂, and can also grow via anaerobic respiration using H₂ and ferric iron. Found in hot springs and hydrothermal vents, over 20% of their genes show strong...
01:27Diversity of Archaea III
Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like environments.Morphological...
01:29Diversity of Archaea IV
Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist thermal...
01:29Viruses of Archaea
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...