Antifreeze protein

Function

Antifreeze protein (AFP) permits the survival of certain organisms in subzero temperatures. AFP binds to small ice crystals thus inhibiting their growth.^[1]. There are 3 types of AFP which differ in the ice crusts face to which they bind^[2].

AFP I is Ala-rich and alpha helical
AFP II is Cys-rich and globular
AFP III is globular
For winter flounder antifreeze protein type I see User:Mary Ball/AFP.
For snow flea antifreeze protein see Sandox 2pne
For insect antifreeze protein see RiAFP
For yellow mealworm antifreeze protein see Tenebrio molitor Antifreeze Protein (TmAFP).

Relevance

AFPs are added to ice cream and yogurt. AFPs are tested as freeze tolerant for crops, cryosurgery, hypothermia therapy, food preservation and tissue transplant preservation.

Structural highlights

at distances which match those of the primary prism plane of ice thus allowing for favorable interactions between the protein and ice crystals. Fungal antifreeze protein (PDB code 3vn3)^[3] is shown.

3D Structures of antifreeze protein

Antifreeze protein 3D structures

Fungal antifreeze protein complex with ethylene glycol (PDB code 3vn3)

Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate

ReferencesReferences

↑ Jorov A, Zhorov BS, Yang DS. Theoretical study of interaction of winter flounder antifreeze protein with ice. Protein Sci. 2004 Jun;13(6):1524-37. PMID:15152087 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1110/ps.04641104
↑ Eskandari A, Leow TC, Rahman MBA, Oslan SN. Antifreeze Proteins and Their Practical Utilization in Industry, Medicine, and Agriculture. Biomolecules. 2020 Dec 9;10(12):1649. PMID:33317024 doi:10.3390/biom10121649
↑ Kondo H, Hanada Y, Sugimoto H, Hoshino T, Garnham CP, Davies PL, Tsuda S. Ice-binding site of snow mold fungus antifreeze protein deviates from structural regularity and high conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 12;109(24):9360-5. Epub 2012 May 29. PMID:22645341 doi:10.1073/pnas.1121607109

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Michal Harel, Alexander Berchansky

[1] Jorov A, Zhorov BS, Yang DS. Theoretical study of interaction of winter flounder antifreeze protein with ice. Protein Sci. 2004 Jun;13(6):1524-37. PMID:15152087 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1110/ps.04641104

[2] Eskandari A, Leow TC, Rahman MBA, Oslan SN. Antifreeze Proteins and Their Practical Utilization in Industry, Medicine, and Agriculture. Biomolecules. 2020 Dec 9;10(12):1649. PMID:33317024 doi:10.3390/biom10121649

[3] Kondo H, Hanada Y, Sugimoto H, Hoshino T, Garnham CP, Davies PL, Tsuda S. Ice-binding site of snow mold fungus antifreeze protein deviates from structural regularity and high conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 12;109(24):9360-5. Epub 2012 May 29. PMID:22645341 doi:10.1073/pnas.1121607109

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