Collaborative Research: Deep Supercooling to -100 C, and lower, in the Alaska Beetle Cucujus clavipes

合作研究：将阿拉斯加甲虫 Cucujus clavipes 深度过冷至 -100 C 或更低

• 批准号: 0618436
• 负责人: Brian Barnes
• 金额: $ 18.48万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2010-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0618436&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Deep; Supercooling; 100

Insects that are exposed to subzero temperatures adapt by becoming either freeze tolerant (they survive if frozen) or they must become freeze avoiding and prevent freezing. The freeze avoiding beetle Cucujus clavipes has a broad latitudinal range, from North Carolina to the Brooks Range in northern Alaska above the Arctic Circle. In the interior of Alaska, this species of beetle is exposed to some of the lowest temperatures in North America and as a result has become freeze avoiding to the extreme. Overwintering Alaska populations of C. clavipes generally supercool (cool below their freezing point without freezing) to a mean of approximately -40oC, with some individuals supercooling to 58oC, before freezing. However, sometimes, larvae of this beetle species deep supercool and cannot be frozen even when cooled to 150oC. Although during deep supercooling beetle larvae do not freeze, they do turn glassy or vitrify at ~ -75oC.. During vitrification their body water turns solid, but does not crystallize to form ice.. The primary goal of this study is to identify and characterize the physiological adaptations that permit deep supercooling and vitrification. Specifically the PIs will investigate the roles of antifreeze proteins, glycerol, removal of ice nucleators that limit supercooling, diapause (reduced metabolism), and cryoprotective dehydration and concentration of antifreeze proteins.. In addition, a proteome study will identify additional proteins that may aid in deep supercooling. The broader impacts of this work includes the potential applications for: (1) cryopreservation of biological materials in a non-frozen state, (2) development of more cold tolerant plants for agriculture, and (3) the frozen food industry. Further, the work will include training for a talented high school student and several graduate students. Furthering the understanding of the how adaptations permit survival at such extreme low temperatures has the potential to create enthusiasm and attract more students to careers in biology.

暴露在零度以下的昆虫通过变得耐冻（如果被冻住，它们就能生存）或者它们必须变得避冻和防止结冰来适应。避寒甲虫Cucujus clavipes的纬度范围很广，从北卡罗来纳州到北极圈以上北方阿拉斯加的布鲁克斯山脉。在阿拉斯加的内陆，这种甲虫暴露在北美最低的温度下，因此已经成为极端的防冻剂。越冬阿拉斯加种群C.棒足类通常过冷（冷却到冰点以下而不结冰）至平均约-40 ° C，有些个体在结冰前过冷至58 ° C。然而，有时，这种甲虫的幼虫会过冷，即使冷却到150摄氏度也不能冷冻。虽然在深度过冷期间甲虫幼虫不会冻结，但它们在~-75 ° C时会变成玻璃状或玻璃化。在玻璃化过程中，它们的身体水分变成固体，但不会结晶成冰。本研究的主要目的是确定和表征允许深度过冷和玻璃化的生理适应。具体来说，PI将研究抗冻蛋白、甘油、限制过冷的冰核剂的去除、滞育（代谢减少）和抗冻蛋白的防冻脱水和浓缩的作用。此外，蛋白质组学研究将确定可能有助于深度过冷的其他蛋白质。这项工作的更广泛的影响包括潜在的应用：（1）在非冷冻状态下冷冻保存生物材料，（2）开发更耐寒的农业植物，以及（3）冷冻食品工业。此外，这项工作将包括培训一名有才华的高中生和几名研究生。进一步了解如何适应允许在这种极端低温下生存有可能创造热情，吸引更多的学生从事生物学职业。