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Antifreeze Glycoproteins—Preventing the Growth of Ice
Author(s) -
Ben Robert N.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/1439-7633(20010302)2:3<161::aid-cbic161>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - antifreeze , cryoprotectant , glycoprotein , antifreeze protein , chemistry , function (biology) , biochemistry , biology , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , embryo , cryopreservation
Although antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) were first discovered over thirty years ago , the molecular mechanism by which these biological cryoprotectants (see picture for the structure of a typical AFGP, n =4–55) inhibit the growth of ice has not been elucidated. Consequently, comprehensive structure–function studies with AFGP analogues are urgently required. With a detailed understanding of how these compounds function at the molecular level, many medical, commercial, and industrial applications may be fully realized.