Large-Scale Purification of Natural Ice-Binding Proteins by the Falling Water Ice Purification Method

We describe here a generic technique for purification of ice-binding proteins (IBPs) using a commercial ice machine. The method, which is called falling water ice purification (FWIP) [1], is based on the affinity of the proteins to ice, and it is therefore suitable for any IBP, natural and synthetic, with and without fused segments or domains. The FWIP method does not require the addition of tags to the protein, nor the use of resins and additives, and is suitable for large-scale purification. These features may turn FWIP useful also in the food and medical sectors.