The Role of Antifreeze Proteins in Freezing Avoidance of Antarctic Fishes

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Antarctic fish live in waters that are perennially at the freezing point of body fluids. These waters would be devoid of fish if these fish had not evolved biological antifreeze molecules to avoid freezing. The evolutionary aspects of antifreezes in Antarctic fish possess considerable scientific interest. Dr. Arthur DeVries began his studies on antifreezes in Antarctic fish over three decades ago and has systematically investigated the mechanism by which antifreezes confer freezing avoidance on the whole animal. This research project will continue the study of how antifreezes evolved in the Antarctic fishes by examining the physiological and mechanistic processes involved in freezing tolerance. Physiological studies include synthesis of antifreezes and factors that govern synthesis, secretion, fluid and tissue transport, and conservation of antifreezes. Mechanistic studies focus on understanding how antifreezes adsorb to ice and inhibit ice crystal growth. Aside from the intrinsic value of the project, freezing avoidance in fish could have implications to the fields of human pathologies, in nucleation theory, and in crystallography.