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Direct evidence for antifreeze glycoprotein adsorption onto an ice surface
Author(s) -
Brown Robert A.,
Yeh Yin,
Burcham Timothy S.,
Feeney Robert E.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.360240713
Subject(s) - antifreeze protein , chemistry , adsorption , antifreeze , ice crystals , molecule , aqueous solution , supercooling , crystallography , chemical physics , hysteresis , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , biochemistry , optics , physics , condensed matter physics , engineering
Abstract Aqueous solutions of antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGP) exhibit hysteresis between the freezing and melting temperatures. Several recent studies on the mechanism of function of this protein system suggest that a likely model is for the antifreeze molecules to be adsorbed onto the surface of the crystals. However, direct proof of the presence of adsorbed AFGP has eluded previous researchers. In the present study, enhanced surface second‐harmonic generation (SSHG) was observed in the presence of an active AFGP solution in contact with a pure single crystal of ice. The enhancement of SSHG is a positive indication that active AFGP molecules adsorb to the surface of ice crystals.