Fish Antifreeze Proteins

A collection of works by researchers who have studied the antifreeze proteins which enable organisms to avoid freezing under extreme conditions.

This first volume provides a comprehensive overview on evolutionary, environmental and systematic aspects of antifreeze proteins. It shortly explains the physical properties of ice and further intelligibly describes the biology of the antifreeze proteins in different organisms, and offers a detailed insight into their history of evolution. In addition the book discusses the status of the current knowledge and ongoing research and highlights also those parts, where further investigation needs to be done. Together with the second volume on the biochemistry and molecular biology of antifreeze proteins, this book represents a unique, comprehensive work and a must-have for students and scientists in biochemistry, evolution, physiology and physical chemistry.

In their very first lecture biochemists learn that biomolecules, namely nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, are extremely temperature sensitive and will denature and lose their function easily. Then how do Archaebacteria survive in hot springs or Antarctic fishes which live in ice-cold water? The way nature engineered subcellular structures, lipid membranes or proteins to meet the biochemical requirements of extreme conditions - like extreme temperature or salt concentrations - is described in Life Under Extreme Conditions.

This second volume, written in four parts, offers the reader a thorough review on molecular, structural and applied aspects of antifreeze proteins. The first part treats the structure-function relationship and the physicochemical properties of antifreeze proteins; the second part provides insight into molecular mechanisms affected by antifreeze proteins; the third part presents some of the potential applications in various professional sectors and in the last part the book content is summarized and future research directions and ideas are discussed. Together with the first volume on the environment, systematic and evolution of antifreeze proteins, this book represents a unique, comprehensive work and a must-have for students and scientists in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology and physical chemistry.

Studies on transgenic fish, in contrast to mammals, are still in their infancy. However, it is evident that such fish will not only be of considerable economic benefit to aquaculture but will enable scientists to make quantum leaps in their understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms unique to fish, and of the developmental biology of vertebrates in general.The potential of transgenic fish for research and industrial development is beginning to be widely recognized. This timely volume encompasses the full spectrum of current research on transgenic fish. It will be valuable to many scientists who intend to explore the merits of the technology for the first time.

Antifreeze proteins enable organisms to avoid freezing under extreme conditions. The greatest diversity of known antifreeze proteins is in teleost fish and much work has gone into the understanding of these proteins and their applications. Antifreeze proteins are an exciting model system for the study of protein-surface (ice) interaction. They have served as unique model structures in protein science and they are also useful tools in the study of fish physiology and behaviour. Their emergence in some fish species has even provided a rare glimpse of de novo protein evolution in action. To cover the diverse aspects of fish antifreeze study, a wide spectrum of researchers was selected to write comprehensive articles on different areas of antifreeze research. This text should be a very useful and informative resource for life science researchers.

Antifreeze proteins, also known as thermal hysteresis proteins, ice binding proteins and ice structuring proteins, prevent the growth of ice crystals in several cold blooded organisms. First discovered in fish, they have also been found in insects, plants, fungi and bacteria. Antifreeze proteins cause the non-colligative depression of the freezing point of water, a property which has been exploited in the practical applications of antifreeze proteins such as improving the texture of ice cream, and could be used to extend the crop growing season or allow fish to thrive in cold waters. This book provides clear information on what is known about antifreeze proteins today and how to study them.