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A Study on the Hyperactive Antifreeze Proteins from the Insect Tenebrio molitor

Choi, Young Eun
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1195953014

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Physics (Arts and Sciences).
Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are class of proteins that protect organisms from damages caused by freezing, either by preventing freezing or minimizing frost damages. AFPs effectively lower the temperature at which water freezes. They are classified by the depression of the freezing temperature compared to the melting temperature, i.e. Thermal Hysteresis activity (TH): moderately active AFPs and hyperactive AFPs. It is still unknown what makes some AFPs hyperactive compared to the much less active classes of AFPs. Previous studies showed that fusion proteins of fish type III AFP bind independently to ice. This conclusion was derived from experiments with bulky proteins that were fused to this moderately AFP. One possible explanation for the increased activity of the hyperactive AFPs is that they might function cooperatively. To investigate this, the hyperactive AFP from the mealworm, Tenebrio molitor (TmAFP), was linked to bulky proteins. In this thesis, these fusion proteins were assayed by a nanoliter osmometer, a device that has been designed to measure TH of AFPs. The results indicate that the addition of large molecules to the TmAFP does not induce any loss of thermal hysteresis activity; these fusion proteins were rather more active than free TmAFP at almost all concentrations. Further, ice crystal morphologies obtained by the fusion proteins were the same as the ones of free TmAFP. Therefore, it is concluded that TmAFPs independently bind to ice and their enhanced thermal hysteresis activity does not result from cooperativity.
Ido Braslavsky (Advisor)
51 p.
Anti freeze proteins; Thermal Hysteresis; Nanoliter osmometer; function cooperativity; Hyperactive antifreeze proteins; TmAFP; Tenebrio molitor antifreeze protein; Protein conjugates; Cold finger purification

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Choi, Y. E. (2007). A Study on the Hyperactive Antifreeze Proteins from the Insect Tenebrio molitor [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1195953014

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Choi, Young Eun. A Study on the Hyperactive Antifreeze Proteins from the Insect Tenebrio molitor. 2007. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1195953014.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Choi, Young Eun. "A Study on the Hyperactive Antifreeze Proteins from the Insect Tenebrio molitor." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1195953014

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1195953014
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.