Extraction of Carrot (Daucus carota) Antifreeze Proteins and Evaluation of Their Effects on Frozen White Salted Noodles

Frost fighters: unveiling the potential of microbial antifreeze proteins in biotech innovation

Polar environments pose extreme challenges for life due to low temperatures, limited water, high radiation, and frozen landscapes. Despite these harsh conditions, numerous macro and microorganisms have developed adaptive strategies to reduce the detrimental effects of extreme cold. A primary survival tactic involves avoiding or tolerating intra and extracellular freezing. Many organisms achieve this by maintaining a supercooled state by producing small organic compounds like sugars, glycerol, and amino acids, or through increasing solute concentration. Another approach is the synthesis of ice-binding proteins, specifically antifreeze proteins (AFPs), which hinder ice crystal growth below the melting point. This adaptation is crucial for preventing intracellular ice formation, which could be lethal, and ensuring the presence of liquid water around cells. AFPs have independently evolved in different species, exhibiting distinct thermal hysteresis and ice structuring properties. Beyond their ecological role, AFPs have garnered significant attention in biotechnology for potential applications in the food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries. This review aims to offer a thorough insight into the activity and impacts of AFPs on water, examining their significance in cold-adapted organisms, and exploring the diversity of microbial AFPs. Using a meta-analysis from cultivation-based and cultivation-independent data, we evaluate the correlation between AFP-producing microorganisms and cold environments. We also explore small and large-scale biotechnological applications of AFPs, providing a perspective for future research.

The Nanoliter Osmometer: Thermal Hysteresis Measurement

The nanoliter osmometer is one of the most common tools in the study of ice-binding proteins (IBPs). It is used not only to measure the thermal hysteresis activity of IBPs but also to explore ice shaping, ice adhesion, and ice growth and melting rates and patterns. The advantage of the nanoliter osmometer for the IBP study and for studying single ice crystals lies in the small sample volume, in the range of nanoliters. Such a small volume enables precise determination and control of the temperature with precision in the range of millidegrees. This chapter describes in detail the process of determination of thermal hysteresis using a nanoliter osmometer operated by a LabVIEW interface. We describe the preparation of suitable capillaries and sample injection, which is a challenging step in the measurement. We then describe the procedure of single crystal formation and the determination of the melting and freezing temperatures. Insights on crucial parameters are emphasized.

Effect of antifreeze proteins on the freeze-thaw cycle of foods: fundamentals, mechanisms of action, current challenges and recommendations for future work

Freezing is widely used in food preservation, but if not carried out properly, ice crystals can multiply (nucleation) or grow (recrystallization) rapidly. This also affects thawing, causing structural damage and affecting overall quality. The objective of this review is to comprehensively study the cryoprotective effect of antifreeze proteins (AFPs), highlighting their role in the freeze-thaw process of food. The properties of AFPs are based on their thermal hysteresis capacity (THC), on the modification of crystal morphology and on the inhibition of ice recrystallization. The mechanism of action of AFPs is based on the adsorption-inhibition theory, but the specific role of hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds/residues and structural characteristics is also detailed. Because of the properties of AFPs, they have been successfully used to preserve the quality of a wide variety of refrigerated and frozen foods. Among the limitations of the use of AFPs, the high cost of production stands out, but currently there are solutions such as the use the production of recombinant proteins, cloning and chemical synthesis. Although in vitro, in vivo and human studies have shown that AFPs are non-toxic, their safety remains a matter of debate. Further studies are recommended to expand knowledge about AFPs, to reduce costs in their large-scale production, to understand their interaction with other food compounds and their possible effects on the consumer.

Cold adaptation strategies in plants—An emerging role of epigenetics and antifreeze proteins to engineer cold resilient plants

Cold stress adversely affects plant growth, development, and yield. Also, the spatial and geographical distribution of plant species is influenced by low temperatures. Cold stress includes chilling and/or freezing temperatures, which trigger entirely different plant responses. Freezing tolerance is acquired via the cold acclimation process, which involves prior exposure to non-lethal low temperatures followed by profound alterations in cell membrane rigidity, transcriptome, compatible solutes, pigments and cold-responsive proteins such as antifreeze proteins. Moreover, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin dynamics and small non-coding RNAs play a crucial role in cold stress adaptation. Here, we provide a recent update on cold-induced signaling and regulatory mechanisms. Emphasis is given to the role of epigenetic mechanisms and antifreeze proteins in imparting cold stress tolerance in plants. Lastly, we discuss genetic manipulation strategies to improve cold tolerance and develop cold-resistant plants.

Identification of antifreeze peptides in shrimp byproducts autolysate using peptidomics and bioinformatics

In the present study, a novel method based on peptidomics and bioinformatic was applied to identification and characterization of antifreeze peptides (AFPs) from shrimp byproducts autolysate (SBPA). According to the results of in silico prediction and high peptide structural inflexibility, DEYEESGPGIVH and EQICINFCNEK were picked as potential AFP-1 and AFP-2, respectively. The outcomes of DSC determination indicated that TH of synthesized AFP-1 and AFP-2 (10 mg/mL) were 1.37 °C and 1.57 °C, respectively. Besides, 0.1 %-3 % AFPs showed significant cryoprotection in shrimp muscle after 3 and 6 freeze-thaw cycles, evidenced by higher SSP content, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, sulfhydryl content and lower surface hydrophobicity than control; while the higher concentration resulted in better protection against freeze induced denaturation. Both AFP-1&2 showed favorable hydrogen bonding affinity which facilitated ice binding and ice crystal growth inhibition. This work could provide new ideals for identification and characterization of AFPs.

Preparation of Poly(vinyl Alcohol) Microparticles for Freeze Protection of Sensitive Fruit Crops

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) displays ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) properties as many antifreeze proteins found in cold tolerant organisms. The molecular architecture and composition (molecular weight and distribution of pendant OH and acetate groups) have been studied to improve the antifreezing properties of PVA, suggesting that the molecular architecture of PVA plays an important role in IRI activity. The present work deals with the preparation of PVA microparticles using an alkaline treatment. The effect of PVA molecular weight on the morphology and antifreezeing properties of PVA microparticles was investigated. The antifreezeing property of PVA microparticles on the susceptibility of flower bud tissues to freeze damage was also evaluated. The alkaline treatment of an aqueous PVA solution produced stable polymer chain aggregates with spherical shapes. The average size of the PVA microparticles increased significantly with the increasing molecular weight of the PVA macromolecule precursor. The PVA microparticles inhibited the growth of ice crystals and blocked ice growth at concentrations as low as 0.01 % w/v. The effect of impeding ice crystal growth by preventing the joining of adjacent ice crystals is attributed to the larger size of the PVA particles adsorbed on the ice surface compared to the aggregated PVA macromolecules in saline solution. The thermal hysteresis activity of PVA macromolecules and microparticles was not detected by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The PVA microparticles reduced the incidence of freeze injuries in flower bud tissues by 55% and their application, considering the low toxicity of PVA, has a high potential for freeze protection in fruit crops.

Antifreeze Proteins: Novel Applications and Navigation towards Their Clinical Application in Cryobanking

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) or thermal hysteresis (TH) proteins are biomolecular gifts of nature to sustain life in extremely cold environments. This family of peptides, glycopeptides and proteins produced by diverse organisms including bacteria, yeast, insects and fish act by non-colligatively depressing the freezing temperature of the water below its melting point in a process termed thermal hysteresis which is then responsible for ice crystal equilibrium and inhibition of ice recrystallisation; the major cause of cell dehydration, membrane rupture and subsequent cryodamage. Scientists on the other hand have been exploring various substances as cryoprotectants. Some of the cryoprotectants in use include trehalose, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), sucrose, propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol but their extensive application is limited mostly by toxicity, thus fueling the quest for better cryoprotectants. Hence, extracting or synthesizing antifreeze protein and testing their cryoprotective activity has become a popular topic among researchers. Research concerning AFPs encompasses lots of effort ranging from understanding their sources and mechanism of action, extraction and purification/synthesis to structural elucidation with the aim of achieving better outcomes in cryopreservation. This review explores the potential clinical application of AFPs in the cryopreservation of different cells, tissues and organs. Here, we discuss novel approaches, identify research gaps and propose future research directions in the application of AFPs based on recent studies with the aim of achieving successful clinical and commercial use of AFPs in the future.

Frozen steamed breads and boiled noodles: Quality affected by ingredients and processing

Chinese steamed breads (CSB) and noodles are staple foods for many people. The production of frozen steamed products and boiled noodles has kept increasing. This is due to the increasing demand of ready-to-eat frozen food products from the market. Frozen storage significantly increases the self-life of the products and reduces the production costs. On the other hand, the freezing and frozen storage lead to quality loss of the frozen products. This review summarizes effects of freezing and frozen storage on diverse quality attributes (e.g., structural and textural properties) of frozen northern-type steamed breads and boiled noodles. Food safety of the frozen products related to the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed. To counteract the quality loss of the frozen products, suitable processing methods, selection of basic ingredients and uses of various food additives can be done. Research gaps to improve the textural, cooking and nutritional quality of frozen CSB and noodles are suggested.

Antifreeze Proteins and Their Practical Utilization in Industry, Medicine, and Agriculture

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are specific proteins, glycopeptides, and peptides made by different organisms to allow cells to survive in sub-zero conditions. AFPs function by reducing the water’s freezing point and avoiding ice crystals’ growth in the frozen stage. Their capability in modifying ice growth leads to the stabilization of ice crystals within a given temperature range and the inhibition of ice recrystallization that decreases the drip loss during thawing. This review presents the potential applications of AFPs from different sources and types. AFPs can be found in diverse sources such as fish, yeast, plants, bacteria, and insects. Various sources reveal different α-helices and β-sheets structures. Recently, analysis of AFPs has been conducted through bioinformatics tools to analyze their functions within proper time. AFPs can be used widely in various aspects of application and have significant industrial functions, encompassing the enhancement of foods’ freezing and liquefying properties, protection of frost plants, enhancement of ice cream’s texture, cryosurgery, and cryopreservation of cells and tissues. In conclusion, these applications and physical properties of AFPs can be further explored to meet other industrial players. Designing the peptide-based AFP can also be done to subsequently improve its function.

Investigation of the antifreeze mechanism and effect on quality characteristics of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) during F-T cycles by hAFP

The interaction between herring antifreeze protein (hAFP) and ice crystals was studied by molecular dynamics simulation in this paper. On this basis, the effect of hAFP on the quality attributes of largemouth bass after three freezing-thawing (F-T) cycles was studied. Scanning electron microscope was conducted to analyze the microstructure changes of muscle fibers. The content of dityrosine/total sulfhydryl/carbonyl and the Ca2+-ATPase activity were measured to explore the degree of protein oxidation. Raman and intrinsic fluorescence spectra were used to measure the protein secondary structure and tertiary conformation. Results showed that hAFP protected the organisms from freezing by binding to the ice crystals, decreasing the freezing point and inhibiting the recrystallization. Furthermore, hAFP combined with chitosan magnetic (CS@Fe3O4) nanoparticles or vacuum impregnation hAFP was shown to be an effective method to reduce the mechanical damage of ice crystals to samples, and decrease the oxidation degree of samples during F-T cycles.

Ice Binding Proteins: Diverse Biological Roles and Applications in Different Types of Industry

More than 80% of Earth’s surface is exposed periodically or continuously to temperatures below 5 °C. Organisms that can live in these areas are called psychrophilic or psychrotolerant. They have evolved many adaptations that allow them to survive low temperatures. One of the most interesting modifications is production of specific substances that prevent living organisms from freezing. Psychrophiles can synthesize special peptides and proteins that modulate the growth of ice crystals and are generally called ice binding proteins (IBPs). Among them, antifreeze proteins (AFPs) inhibit the formation of large ice grains inside the cells that may damage cellular organelles or cause cell death. AFPs, with their unique properties of thermal hysteresis (TH) and ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI), have become one of the promising tools in industrial applications like cryobiology, food storage, and others. Attention of the industry was also caught by another group of IBPs exhibiting a different activity—ice-nucleating proteins (INPs). This review summarizes the current state of art and possible utilizations of the large group of IBPs.

Peptidic Antifreeze Materials: Prospects and Challenges

Necessitated by the subzero temperatures and seasonal exposure to ice, various organisms have developed a remarkably effective means to survive the harsh climate of their natural habitats. Their ice-binding (glyco)proteins keep the nucleation and growth of ice crystals in check by recognizing and binding to specific ice crystal faces, which arrests further ice growth and inhibits ice recrystallization (IRI). Inspired by the success of this adaptive strategy, various approaches have been proposed over the past decades to engineer materials that harness these cryoprotective features. In this review we discuss the prospects and challenges associated with these advances focusing in particular on peptidic antifreeze materials both identical and akin to natural ice-binding proteins (IBPs). We address the latest advances in their design, synthesis, characterization and application in preservation of biologics and foods. Particular attention is devoted to insights in structure-activity relations culminating in the synthesis of de novo peptide analogues. These are sequences that resemble but are not identical to naturally occurring IBPs. We also draw attention to impactful developments in solid-phase peptide synthesis and 'greener' synthesis routes, which may aid to overcome one of the major bottlenecks in the translation of this technology: unavailability of large quantities of low-cost antifreeze materials with excellent IRI activity at (sub)micromolar concentrations.

Comparative Study on the Cryoprotective Effects of Three Recombinant Antifreeze Proteins from Pichia pastoris GS115 on Hydrated Gluten Proteins during Freezing

During the freezing process, ice crystal formation leads to the deterioration in physicochemical properties and networks of gluten proteins. The cryoprotective effects of recombinant carrot ( Daucus carota) antifreeze protein (rCaAFP), type II antifreeze protein from Epinephelus coioides (rFiAFP), and Tenebrio molitor antifreeze protein (rTmAFP) produced from Pichia pastoris GS115 on hydrated gluten, glutenin, and gliadin during freezing were investigated. The thermal hysteresis (TH) activity and ice crystals' morphology modification ability of recombinant antifreeze proteins (rAFPs) were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cryomicroscope, respectively. The freezing and melting properties, water state, rheological properties, and microstructure of hydrated gluten proteins were studied by DSC, low field nuclear magnetic resonance, rheometer, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The rTmAFP exhibited strongest TH activity and ice crystals' morphology modification ability, followed by rFiAFP and rCaAFP. The addition of the three rAFPs caused freezing hysteresis and weakened the damage of freezing to the networks of hydrated gluten, glutenin, and gliadin. During freezing, the cryoprotective effects of the three rAFPs on the freezable water content, water mobility and distribution, and rheological properties of hydrated gluten were achieved by protecting these corresponding properties of hydrated glutenin. Among the three rAFPs, rTmAFP was most effective in the cryoprotective activities on hydrated gluten proteins during freezing. The results demonstrate the potential of these rAFPs, especially rTmAFP, to preserve the above properties of hydrated gluten proteins during the freezing process.

Role of ice structuring proteins on freezing-thawing cycles of pasta sauces

The freezing of the food is one of the most important technological developments for the storage of food in terms of quality and safety. The aim of this work was to study the role of an ice structuring protein (ISP) on freezing-thawing cycles of different solutions and commercial Italian pasta sauces. Ice structuring proteins were related to the modification of the structure of ice. The results showed that the freezing time of an aqueous solution containing the protein was reduced to about 20% with respect to a pure water solution. The same effect was demonstrated in sugar-containing solutions and in lipid-containing sauces. The study proved a specific role of ISP during thawing, inducing a time decrease similar to that of freezing and even more important in the case of tomato-based sauces. This work demonstrated the role of ISP in the freezing-thawing process, showing a significant reduction of processing in the freezing and thawing phase by adding the protein to pure water and different sugar-, salt- and lipid-containing solutions and commercial sauces, with considerable benefits for the food industry in terms of costs and food quality.

Antifreeze proteins in naturally cold acclimated leaves of Drimys angustifolia, Senecio icoglossus, and Eucalyptus ssp

Summary Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) present in plants may inhibit ice recrystallization even at low concentrations, and show potential application to many frozen foods. This study evaluated the presence of antifreeze proteins in naturally cold acclimated and non-acclimated leaves of Drimys angustifolia, Senecio icoglossus and Eucalyptus ssp. No proteins were detected in apoplastic extracts of Eucalyptus ssp. Extracts of cold acclimated and non-acclimated S. icoglossus showed protein concentrations of 42.89 and 17.76 µg mL-1, both with bands between 25 and 37 kDa in the SDS-PAGE. However, they did not inhibit recrystallization. The extract of cold acclimated D. angustifolia contained a protein concentration of 95.17 µg mL-1, almost five times higher than the extract of non-acclimated D. angustifolia. In the extract of cold acclimated D. angustifolia, there was presence of ice recrystallization inhibitors. This extract showed a protein band just below 37 kDa and another more intense band between 20 and 25 kDa. It is the first time that the presence of antifreeze proteins in this species is being described.

Revisão: Proteínas anticongelantes – uma tecnologia emergente para o congelamento de alimentos

Um dos métodos mais tradicionais na conservação de alimentos, o congelamento também pode alterar de forma significativa as características do produto. Grandes cristais de gelo provocam alteração na textura e/ou danos a membranas e componentes celulares. As técnicas de congelamento rápido formam cristais de gelo menores do que o processo lento, porém as flutuações de temperatura durante a distribuição e transporte podem promover o crescimento dos cristais. Esse processo é conhecido como recristalização e é uma barreira na utilização do congelamento como método de conservação em muitos casos. O uso de crioprotetores tradicionais, como a sacarose, é uma alternativa limitada, uma vez que concentrações elevadas são requeridas. Na década de 1970, foi descrita em peixes de águas frias uma classe de proteínas que, em baixa concentração, pode interagir e influenciar o crescimento do cristal de gelo. Elas foram chamadas de proteínas anticongelantes (PACs), sendo encontradas também em plantas, animais e micro-organismos ambientados a baixas temperaturas. Essas proteínas podem intervir no processo de formação do núcleo inicial do gelo, reduzir o ponto de congelamento da água, ou, ainda, inibir a recristalização, principalmente para PACs de vegetais. Há diversos trabalhos publicados e algumas patentes registradas para o uso de PACs em diversos alimentos, como lácteos, carnes, massas, frutas e hortaliças, conservando de melhor forma as características originais do alimento. Atualmente, o custo ainda é uma barreira para utilização comercial das PACs. Contudo, a descoberta de novas fontes pode reduzir seu custo e tornar essas proteínas uma ferramenta efetiva na manutenção da textura de alimentos congelados. Baseada em trabalhos que avaliaram aspectos químicos das PACs e exemplos de sua aplicação, esta revisão tem como objetivo principal apresentar as características gerais das PACs e discutir sobre sua utilização.

Extraction, purification and identification of antifreeze proteins from cold acclimated malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Antifreeze proteins from cold-acclimated malting barley were extracted by infiltration-centrifugation. The infiltration time was optimised, and its extraction effect was evaluated. The effect of cold acclimation on the accumulation of barley antifreeze proteins (BaAFPs) was assessed by comparing the thermal hysteresis activities (THA) of proteins extracted from both cold acclimated and non-cold acclimated barley grain. Ultra-filtration, ammonium precipitation and column chromatography were used successively to purify the BaAFPs, and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS was used for protein identification. The results showed that infiltration-centrifugation was more targeted than the traditional method, and 10h was the optimal infiltration time. THA was observed only after cold acclimation implied that AFPs only began to accumulate after cold acclimation. After purification, BaAFP-I was obtained at an electrophoresis level and its THA was 1.04°C (18.0 mg ml(-1)). The mass fingerprinting and sequencing results indicated the homology of the BaAFP-I to alpha-amylase inhibitor BDAI-1 (Hordeum vulgare).