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Researchers publish breakthrough study on how new genes evolve

Researchers propose a new model for understanding how new genes can originate through the recycling and innovation of ancestral genes. A study on antifreeze proteins in fish reveals that similar proteins evolved independently from different genetic sources, demonstrating convergent evolution and protein sequence convergence.

SourceUniversity of Arkansas·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 19, 2024

Novel bacterial proteins from seafloor shine light on climate and astrobiology

Scientists have identified a previously unknown class of bacterial proteins that suppress the growth of methane clathrates as effectively as commercial chemicals, but are non-toxic and scalable. This discovery has significant implications for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the safety of transporting natural gas.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023

Using phage to discover new antifreeze proteins

A team of scientists from the University of Warwick used phage display to discover a small peptide that can bind to ice, which has potential applications in preserving frozen cells and foods. The discovery highlights the power of biotechnology tools in discovering new materials with unique properties.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 11, 2021

We now know how insects and bacteria control ice

Scientists have discovered how key proteins produced in bacteria and insects can either promote or inhibit the formation of ice. The study reveals that these proteins can be designed to nucleate ice at specific temperatures, enabling more accurate weather forecasts and potentially solving water scarcity issues. This breakthrough has si...

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 12, 2019

Can an antifreeze protein also promote ice formation?

Antifreeze proteins, typically preventing ice formation, have also been found to promote its growth at extremely low temperatures. This study, published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, provides insight into the basic processes of ice formation and suggests potential implications for understanding climate.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 14, 2019

How antifreeze proteins make ice crystals grow

Researchers from Bielefeld University and international partners have confirmed two-fold ability of antifreeze molecules to trigger or inhibit ice crystal formation depending on temperature. This discovery challenges the long-held view that antifreeze proteins only inhibit ice crystal growth.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 7, 2019

Cell tissue must not freeze!

Researchers have introduced polyproline as an effective cryoprotectant for monolayers of cells, doubling cell recovery after freezing compared to dimethyl sulfoxide. The proline/polyproline combination minimizes solvent exposure and retains cell functions.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 6, 2017

Not just cars, but living organisms need antifreeze to survive

Researchers have discovered that antifreeze proteins in plants and animals prevent frost damage by coating and protecting ice crystals. The study, published in PNAS, used microfluidic devices to observe the binding of AFPs to ice, revealing a strong and irreversible interaction that prevents ice growth even without protein presence.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 18, 2013

Dance of water molecules turns fire-colored beetles into antifreeze artists

Researchers found that fire-colored beetle antifreeze proteins protect against freezing temperatures through a combination of direct interaction with ice crystals and interactions via water molecules. This process, previously thought to occur only locally, also happens over longer distances due to the dynamics of water molecules.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 2, 2013

Researchers show how 1 gene becomes 2 (with different functions)

A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the molecular evolution of two competing functions from a single gene, AFP III, which helps Antarctic fish survive in frigid waters. The study confirms the ancestry of antifreeze proteins and validates a decades-old hypothesis about gene duplication.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 12, 2011

Why fish don't freeze in the Arctic Ocean

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum discovered a new mechanism of how Antarctic fish blood prevents freezing at temperatures as low as -1.8°C. The antifreeze glycoproteins work by perturbing the aqueous solvent over long distances, rather than forming a single molecular binding.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 25, 2010

Natural antifreeze yields secrets

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered how antifreeze glycoproteins interact with ice, preventing ice crystals from growing and preserving liquid water around the protein. This discovery may lead to safer storage for food or blood products and help scientists understand biomineralization.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateMar 15, 2002