KINETICS OF ANTIFREEZE PROTEIN-INDUCED ICE GROWTH-INHIBITION

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) depress the freezing temperature of a solut ion in a non-colligative manner, by arresting the growth of ice crysta ls. The kinetics of this effect, studied here for the first time using a new technique called temperature gradient thermometry, are consiste nt with an adsorption-mediated inhibitory mechanism. The results obtai ned by this approach provide a new experimental basis for understandin g AFP interaction with ice. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemica l Societies.