Biochemical mechanism and structure of cold-stress proteins

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We often hear how the human body is made up of over 70% water. Modern living has made water seem like almost any other liquid - wet and uninteresting. Yet to scientists water is extremely complex and its special properties make it essential for life. My research focuses on trying to understand how water interacts with proteins and how proteins bind their targets. Proteins are the building blocks and machinery of cells and our bodies, where cells can form tens of thousands of different versions of proteins for many different functions. We will examine two specific proteins called antifreeze proteins, which protect a number of fish, insects, plants and bacteria from freezing to death, and dehydrins, which are plant proteins that provide protection during dehydration. Antifreeze proteins bind to and inhibit the growth of ice, while dehydrins are thought to prevent damage during dehydration by preventing proteins and membranes from changing shape. We will study these proteins since they both involve the binding of water (or ice). Understanding water binding in these proteins will provide us with information to understand water binding of proteins in general, and the effect water binding may have on important protein functions.