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Lopes JC, Kinasz CT, Luiz AMC, Kreusch MG, Duarte RTD. Frost fighters: unveiling the potential of microbial antifreeze proteins in biotech innovation. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae140. [PMID: 38877650 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Camila Lopes
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina-Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Camila Tomazini Kinasz
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina-Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima,, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Alanna Maylle Cararo Luiz
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina-Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima,, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Marianne Gabi Kreusch
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina-Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Rubens Tadeu Delgado Duarte
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina-Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima,, s/n Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
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2
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Delesky EA, Srubar WV. Ice-binding proteins and bioinspired synthetic mimics in non-physiological environments. iScience 2022; 25:104286. [PMID: 35573196 PMCID: PMC9097698 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Delesky
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Wil V. Srubar
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, ECOT 441 UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Corresponding author
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3
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Hermann M, Agrawal P, Liu C, LeBlanc JCY, Covey TR, Oleschuk RD. Rapid Mass Spectrometric Calibration and Standard Addition Using Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Patterned Surfaces and Discontinuous Dewetting. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2022; 33:660-670. [PMID: 35231172 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.1c00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The rapid calibration chip (RCC) is a device that uses the fast and reproducible wetting behavior of hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterned surfaces to confine a series of differently sized droplets on a substrate to obtain a calibration curve. Multiple series of droplets can be formed within seconds by dipping an RCC into a calibration solution. No pipetting, sequential droplet deposition, or advanced equipment is required. The performance and reproducibility of RCCs were evaluated with an electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a liquid microjunction-surface sampling probe (LMJ-SSP) that allows for fast sampling of surfaces. Using circular hydrophilic areas with diameters ranging from 0.25 to 2.00 mm, liquid volumes of 4.6-70.6 nL could be deposited. Furthermore, the use of a second hydrophobic/hydrophilic patterned transfer chip can be used to add internal standard solutions to each calibration spot of the RCC, allowing to transfer a liquid volume of 22.5 nL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hermann
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Prashant Agrawal
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Chang Liu
- SCIEX, 71 Four Valley Drive, Concord, Ontario L4K 4V8, Canada
| | | | - Thomas R Covey
- SCIEX, 71 Four Valley Drive, Concord, Ontario L4K 4V8, Canada
| | - Richard D Oleschuk
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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4
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Li M, Luckett CR, Wu T. Potent Time-Dependent Ice Recrystallization Inhibition Activity of Cellulose Nanocrystals in Sucrose Solutions. Biomacromolecules 2021; 23:497-504. [PMID: 34914371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c01201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Exploring novel materials with ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity in several fields often starts with a quantitative analysis of ice crystal size change by a splat assay or sandwich assay on a short time scale from 0.5 to 1 h. This study found that this time scale was insufficient to evaluate the IRI activity of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in a model ice cream system-25.0% sucrose solution. No IRI activity was observed in CNCs incubated with ice crystals on a short time scale of 0.5-2.0 h. However, over longer time scales, the growth of ice crystals was entirely inhibited by 1.0% CNCs (between 2 and 24 h) and 0.5% CNCs (between 24 and 72 h) with corresponding final crystal sizes of 25 and 40 μm, respectively. Additionally, ice shaping was observed on a long exposure time, but not on a short exposure time. The findings presented here can be explained by a time-dependent surface coverage of CNCs on ice crystals. The data here indicate the importance of choosing a suitable exposure time for evaluating the IRI activity of new materials and prompt a better understanding of IRI mechanisms involving CNCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, 2510 River Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Curtis R Luckett
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, 2510 River Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, 2510 River Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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5
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Zhu S, Yu J, Chen X, Zhang Q, Cai X, Ding Y, Zhou X, Wang S. Dual cryoprotective strategies for ice-binding and stabilizing of frozen seafood: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.02.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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6
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Gruneberg AK, Graham LA, Eves R, Agrawal P, Oleschuk RD, Davies PL. Ice recrystallization inhibition activity varies with ice-binding protein type and does not correlate with thermal hysteresis. Cryobiology 2021; 99:28-39. [PMID: 33529683 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) inhibit the growth of ice through surface adsorption. In some freeze-resistant fishes and insects, circulating IBPs serve as antifreeze proteins to stop ice growth by lowering the freezing point. Plants are less able to avoid freezing and some use IBPs to minimize the damage caused in the frozen state by ice recrystallization, which is the growth of large ice grains at the expense of small ones. Here we have accurately and reproducibly measured the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity of over a dozen naturally occurring IBPs from fishes, insects, plants, and microorganisms using a modified 'splat' method on serial dilutions of IBPs whose concentrations were determined by amino acid analysis. The endpoint of IRI, which was scored as the lowest protein concentration at which no recrystallization was observed, varied for the different IBPs over two orders of magnitude from 1000 nM to 5 nM. Moreover, there was no apparent correlation between their IRI levels and reported antifreeze activities. IBPs from insects and fishes had similar IRI activity, even though the insect IBPs are typically 10x more active in freezing point depression. Plant IBPs had weak antifreeze activity but were more effective at IRI. Bacterial IBPs involved in ice adhesion showed both strong freezing point depression and IRI. Two trends did emerge, including that basal plane binding IBPs correlated with stronger IRI activity and larger IBPs had higher IRI activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey K Gruneberg
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University. 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L3N6, Canada
| | - Laurie A Graham
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University. 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L3N6, Canada
| | - Robert Eves
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University. 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L3N6, Canada
| | - Prashant Agrawal
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University. 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, K7L2S8, Canada
| | - Richard D Oleschuk
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University. 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, K7L2S8, Canada
| | - Peter L Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University. 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L3N6, Canada.
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7
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Ampaw AA, Sibthorpe A, Ben RN. Use of Ice Recrystallization Inhibition Assays to Screen for Compounds That Inhibit Ice Recrystallization. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2180:271-283. [PMID: 32797415 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0783-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ice recrystallization inhibition assays are used to screen for compounds that possess the ability to inhibit ice recrystallization. The most common of these assays are the splat cooling assay (SCA) and sucrose sandwich assay (SSA). These two assays possess similarities; however, they vary in their sample size, cooling rate, and the solution used to dissolve the analyte. In this chapter, both assay methods are described in detail, and we perform a direct comparison of the assays by evaluating the IRI activity of an antifreeze protein (AFP I). IRI activity is quantified by using ImageJ software to analyze ice crystals, and a quantitative value describing the efficiency of the inhibitor is generated. This analysis emphasizes the importance of choosing the right assay to measure IRI activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Ampaw
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - August Sibthorpe
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert N Ben
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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8
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Carrot ‘antifreeze’ protein has an irregular ice-binding site that confers weak freezing point depression but strong inhibition of ice recrystallization. Biochem J 2020; 477:2179-2192. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are found in many biological kingdoms where they protect organisms from freezing damage as antifreeze agents or inhibitors of ice recrystallization. Here, the crystal structure of recombinant IBP from carrot (Daucus carota) has been solved to a resolution of 2.3 Å. As predicted, the protein is a structural homologue of a plant polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein forming a curved solenoid structure with a leucine-rich repeat motif. Unexpectedly, close examination of its surface did not reveal any large regions of flat, regularly spaced hydrophobic residues that characterize the ice-binding sites (IBSs) of potent antifreeze proteins from freeze-resistant fish and insects. An IBS was defined by site-directed mutagenesis of residues on the convex surface of the carrot solenoid. This imperfect site is reminiscent of the irregular IBS of grass ‘antifreeze’ protein. Like the grass protein, the carrot IBP has weak freezing point depression activity but is extremely active at nanomolar concentrations in inhibiting ice recrystallization. Ice crystals formed in the presence of both plant proteins grow slowly and evenly in all directions. We suggest that this slow, controlled ice growth is desirable for freeze tolerance. The fact that two plant IBPs have evolved very different protein structures to affect ice in a similar manner suggests this pattern of weak freezing point depression and strong ice recrystallization inhibition helps their host to tolerate freezing rather than to resist it.
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9
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Xiang H, Yang X, Ke L, Hu Y. The properties, biotechnologies, and applications of antifreeze proteins. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 153:661-675. [PMID: 32156540 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
By natural selection, organisms evolve different solutions to cope with extremely cold weather. The emergence of an antifreeze protein gene is one of the most momentous solutions. Antifreeze proteins possess an importantly functional ability for organisms to survive in cold environments and are widely found in various cold-tolerant species. In this review, we summarize the origin of antifreeze proteins, describe the diversity of their species-specific properties and functions, and highlight the related biotechnology on the basis of both laboratory tests and bioinformatics analysis. The most recent advances in the applications of antifreeze proteins are also discussed. We expect that this systematic review will contribute to the comprehensive knowledge of antifreeze proteins to readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xiang
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | - Xiaohu Yang
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | - Lei Ke
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | - Yong Hu
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology.
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10
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Surís-Valls R, Voets IK. Peptidic Antifreeze Materials: Prospects and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5149. [PMID: 31627404 PMCID: PMC6834126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romà Surís-Valls
- Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Laboratory of Macro-Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry & Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600 MD Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Ilja K Voets
- Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Laboratory of Macro-Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry & Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600 MD Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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11
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Esmeryan KD, Lazarov Y, Stamenov GS, Chaushev TA. When condensed matter physics meets biology: Does superhydrophobicity benefiting the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa? Cryobiology 2019; 92:263-266. [PMID: 31600483 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing demand in regenerative and reproductive medicine for successful conservation of living matter, the need of reliable platform in cell banking seems inevitable. Whilst the cells storage at cryogenic temperatures is a well-developed method, far less is known about the efficiency of nanotechnology in cryogenics. The primary objective of this study is to represent the first of its kind experimental results related to cryopreservation of human spermatozoa by means of superhydrophobic carbon soot coatings. The inclusion of soot-based water repellent interface during the freezing and thawing of human semen minimizes the solid-liquid interfacial area, retards the heat transfer rate and promotes the recovery of up to 80% of initial motility of post-thaw sperm cells. Our discoveries reveal a fundamentally new and exciting direction of development of cryopreservation technologies in the battle against painful biopsies and repetitive surgeries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karekin D Esmeryan
- Acoustoelectronics Laboratory, Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72, Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd, 1784, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Yuliyan Lazarov
- Acoustoelectronics Laboratory, Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72, Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd, 1784, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi S Stamenov
- Research Department, Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "BlagaVest" Street, 1330, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Todor A Chaushev
- Research Department, Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital, 3 "BlagaVest" Street, 1330, Sofia, Bulgaria
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12
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Agrawal P, Salomons TT, Chiriac DS, Ross AC, Oleschuk RD. Facile Actuation of Organic and Aqueous Droplets on Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces for the Application of On-Chip Polymer Synthesis and Liquid-Liquid Extraction. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:28327-28335. [PMID: 31291086 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b08849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Digital microfluidics employs water-repellant surfaces to exquisitely manipulate droplets of water for chemical analysis. However, the actuation and manipulation of organic droplets is still relatively unexplored as it is significantly more difficult to synthesize organic-repellent surfaces compared to water-repellent surfaces. Here, we present the fabrication of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) based on a porous polymer monolithic approach. The synthesized SLIPS were able to repel organic liquids such as hexane and methanol with a contact angle of 42.1 ± 0.4° and 69.0 ± 1.8°, respectively, as well as water with a contact angle of 115.8 ± 0.8°. More importantly for digital microfluidic applications, the sliding angle of liquids tested was between 4° and 6°. As a result, droplets containing magnetically susceptible material could be facilely manipulated on the SLIPS surface. A systematic actuation study was carried out to explore how actuation parameters including speed, paramagnetic particle (PMP) concentrations, and droplet volume impacted the outcomes (droplet actuation, disengagement, and PMP extraction). Two different applications were used to demonstrate the utility of actuating organic droplets on SLIPS surfaces including on-chip liquid-liquid extractions of natural products (NPs) from marine bacteria and droplet-based polymer synthesis with different polymerization conditions. Both applications employ an aqueous droplet and organic droplet interface at which either phase transfer or a chemical reaction is carried out. Two NPs (prodigiosin from Pseudoalteromonas rubra and violacein from Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea) were extracted, from aqueous droplets containing the bacteria, into butanol droplets and characterized with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Nylon 6,6 was synthesized on-chip via magnetic actuation of organic droplets containing adipoyl chloride and hexamethylamine. Relative intensities of the characteristic polymer masses suggest that droplet-based microfluidic synthesis on slips can be used to probe reaction conditions. The compatibility of SLIPS with both aqueous and organic solutions opens up a wider number of droplet-based sample preparation protocols and chemical transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Agrawal
- Department of Chemistry , Queen's University , Kingston K7L 3N6 , Ontario , Canada
| | - Timothy T Salomons
- Department of Chemistry , Queen's University , Kingston K7L 3N6 , Ontario , Canada
| | - Dragos S Chiriac
- Department of Chemistry , Queen's University , Kingston K7L 3N6 , Ontario , Canada
| | - Avena Clara Ross
- Department of Chemistry , Queen's University , Kingston K7L 3N6 , Ontario , Canada
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Casillo A, Ricciardelli A, Parrilli E, Tutino ML, Corsaro MM. Cell-wall associated polysaccharide from the psychrotolerant bacterium Psychrobacter arcticus 273-4: isolation, purification and structural elucidation. Extremophiles 2019; 24:63-70. [PMID: 31309337 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-019-01113-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the structure of the capsular polysaccharide isolated from the psychrotolerant bacterium Psychrobacter arcticus 273-4 is reported. The polymer was purified by gel filtration chromatography and the structure was elucidated by means of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, in combination with chemical analyses. The polysaccharide consists of a trisaccharidic repeating unit containing two residues of glucose and a residue of a N,N-diacetyl-pseudaminic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Casillo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy.
| | - Annarita Ricciardelli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Ermenegilda Parrilli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Tutino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Michela Corsaro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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14
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Ice recrystallization is strongly inhibited when antifreeze proteins bind to multiple ice planes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2212. [PMID: 30760774 PMCID: PMC6374469 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36546-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ice recrystallization is a phenomenon observed as the increase in ice crystal size within an already frozen material. Antifreeze proteins (AFPs), a class of proteins capable of arresting ice crystal growth, are known to inhibit this phenomenon even at sub milli-molar concentrations. A tremendous range in the possible applications of AFPs is hence expected in both medical and industrial fields, while a key determinant of the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) is hardly understood. Here, IRI efficiency and ice plane affinity were examined for the wild-type AFPI–III, a defective AFPIII isoform, and a fungal AFP isoform. To simplify the IRI analysis using the formal representation of Ostwald-ripening (r3 = r03 + kt), we monitored specific ice grains exhibiting only uniform growth, for which maximum Feret diameter was measured. The cube of an ice grain’s radius (r3) increased proportionately with time (t), and its slope gave the recrystallization rate (k). There was a significant difference in the IRI efficiency between the samples, and the fungal AFP possessing the activity with the smallest amount (0.27 μM) exhibited an affinity to multiple ice planes. These results suggest that the IRI efficiency is maximized when AFPs bind to a whole set of ice planes.
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15
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Vance TDR, Bayer-Giraldi M, Davies PL, Mangiagalli M. Ice-binding proteins and the 'domain of unknown function' 3494 family. FEBS J 2019; 286:855-873. [PMID: 30680879 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) control the growth and shape of ice crystals to cope with subzero temperatures in psychrophilic and freeze-tolerant organisms. Recently, numerous proteins containing the domain of unknown function (DUF) 3494 were found to bind ice crystals and, hence, are classified as IBPs. DUF3494 IBPs constitute today the most widespread of the known IBP families. They can be found in different organisms including bacteria, yeasts and microalgae, supporting the hypothesis of horizontal transfer of its gene. Although the 3D structure is always a discontinuous β-solenoid with a triangular cross-section and an adjacent alpha-helix, DUF3494 IBPs present very diverse activities in terms of the magnitude of their thermal hysteresis and inhibition of ice recrystallization. The proteins are secreted into the environments around the host cells or are anchored on their cell membranes. This review covers several aspects of this new class of IBPs, which promise to leave their mark on several research fields including structural biology, protein biochemistry and cryobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler D R Vance
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Maddalena Bayer-Giraldi
- Department of Glaciology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Peter L Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
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