1
|
Eufemio RJ, Schwidetzky R, Meister K. Measurement of Ice Nucleation Activity of Biological Samples. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2730:101-107. [PMID: 37943453 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3503-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Experimentation with ice-nucleating biomolecules is needed to advance the fundamental understanding of biotic heterogeneous ice nucleation. Standard experimental procedures vary with sample type. Here we describe a generalized primary purification and analysis process to measure ice nucleation activity of biological samples using an advanced freezing droplet assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary J Eufemio
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | | | - Konrad Meister
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chang XJ, Sands DC, Ewart KV. Paradoxical effects on ice nucleation are intrinsic to a small winter flounder antifreeze protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:140973. [PMID: 37956730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) bind to ice in solutions, resulting in non-colligative freezing point depression; however, their effects on ice nucleation are not well understood. The predominant plasma AFP of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) is AFP6, which is an amphiphilic alpha helix. In this study, AFP6 and modified constructs were produced as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, subjected to proteolysis when required and purified prior to use. AFP6 and its recombinant fusion precursor generated similar thermal hysteresis and bipyramidal ice crystals, whereas an inactive mutant AFP6 produced hexagonal crystals and no hysteresis. Circular dichroism spectra of the wild-type and mutant AFP6 were consistent with an alpha helix. The effects of these proteins on ice nucleation were investigated alongside non-AFP proteins using a standard droplet freezing assay. In the presence of nucleating AgI, modest reductions in the nucleation temperature occurred with the addition of mutant AFP6, and several non-AFPs, suggesting non-specific inhibition of AgI-induced ice nucleation. In these experiments, both AFP6 and its recombinant precursor resulted in lower nucleation temperatures, consistent with an additional inhibitory effect. Conversely, in the absence of AgI, AFP6 induced ice nucleation, with no other proteins showing this effect. Nucleation by AFP6 was dose-dependent, reaching a maximum at 1.5 mM protein. Nucleation by AFP6 also required an ice-binding site, as the inactive mutant had no effect. Furthermore, the absence of nucleation by the recombinant precursor protein suggested that the fusion moiety was interfering with the formation of a surface capable of nucleating ice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jian Chang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Dane C Sands
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kathryn Vanya Ewart
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Melnik BS, Glukhova KA, Sokolova (Voronova) EA, Balalaeva IV, Garbuzynskiy SO, Finkelstein AV. Physics of Ice Nucleation and Antinucleation: Action of Ice-Binding Proteins. Biomolecules 2023; 14:54. [PMID: 38254654 PMCID: PMC10813080 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010054] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ice-binding proteins are crucial for the adaptation of various organisms to low temperatures. Some of these, called antifreeze proteins, are usually thought to inhibit growth and/or recrystallization of ice crystals. However, prior to these events, ice must somehow appear in the organism, either coming from outside or forming inside it through the nucleation process. Unlike most other works, our paper is focused on ice nucleation and not on the behavior of the already-nucleated ice, its growth, etc. The nucleation kinetics is studied both theoretically and experimentally. In the theoretical section, special attention is paid to surfaces that bind ice stronger than water and thus can be "ice nucleators", potent or relatively weak; but without them, ice cannot be nucleated in any way in calm water at temperatures above -30 °C. For experimental studies, we used: (i) the ice-binding protein mIBP83, which is a previously constructed mutant of a spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana antifreeze protein, and (ii) a hyperactive ice-binding antifreeze protein, RmAFP1, from a longhorn beetle Rhagium mordax. We have shown that RmAFP1 (but not mIBP83) definitely decreased the ice nucleation temperature of water in test tubes (where ice originates at much higher temperatures than in bulk water and thus the process is affected by some ice-nucleating surfaces) and, most importantly, that both of the studied ice-binding proteins significantly decreased the ice nucleation temperature that had been significantly raised in the presence of potent ice nucleators (CuO powder and ice-nucleating bacteria Pseudomonas syringae). Additional experiments on human cells have shown that mIBP83 is concentrated in some cell regions of the cooled cells. Thus, the ice-binding protein interacts not only with ice, but also with other sites that act or potentially may act as ice nucleators. Such ice-preventing interaction may be the crucial biological task of ice-binding proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan S. Melnik
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (K.A.G.); (S.O.G.)
| | - Ksenia A. Glukhova
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (K.A.G.); (S.O.G.)
| | - Evgeniya A. Sokolova (Voronova)
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (I.V.B.)
| | - Irina V. Balalaeva
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (I.V.B.)
| | - Sergiy O. Garbuzynskiy
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (K.A.G.); (S.O.G.)
| | - Alexei V. Finkelstein
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (K.A.G.); (S.O.G.)
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119192 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Park JK, Park SJ, Jeong B. Poly(l-alanine- co-l-threonine succinate) as a Biomimetic Cryoprotectant. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:58092-58102. [PMID: 38060278 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
We synthesized a series of [(l-Ala)x-co-(l-Thr succinate)y] (PATs), which are analogous to natural antifreezing glycoprotein with the structure of [l-Ala-l-Ala-l-Thr disaccharide]n, by varying the composition and degree of succinylation while fixing their molecular weight (Mn) and Ala/Thr ratio at approximately 10-12 kDa and 2:1, respectively. We investigated their ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI), ice nucleation inhibition (INI), dynamic ice shaping (DIS), thermal hysteresis (TH), and protein cryopreservation activities. Both IRI and INI activities were greater for PATs with higher l-Ala content (PATs-3 and PATs-4) than those with lower l-Ala content (PATs-1 and PATs-2). DIS activity with faceted crystal growth was clearly observed in PATs-2 and PATs-4 with a high degree of succinylation. TH was small with <0.1 °C for all PATs and slightly greater for PATs with a high l-Ala content. Except for PATs-1, the protein (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) stabilization activity was excellent for all PATs studied, maintaining LDH activity as high as that of fresh LDH even after 15 freeze-thaw cycles. To conclude, the cryo-active biomimetic PATs were synthesized by controlling the l-Ala content and degree of succinylation. Our results showed that PATs with an l-Ala content of 65-70% and degree of succinylation of 12-19% exhibited the cryo-activities of IRI, INI, and DIS, and particularly promising properties for the cryoprotection of LDH protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Kyung Park
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - So-Jung Park
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Byeongmoon Jeong
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Aich R, Pal P, Chakraborty S, Jana B. Preferential Ordering and Organization of Hydration Water Favor Nucleation of Ice by Ice-Nucleating Proteins over Antifreeze Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:6038-6048. [PMID: 37395194 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria containing ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) evolved in nature to nucleate ice at the high sub-zero ambiance. The ability of the INPs to induce order in the hydration layer and their aggregation propensity appear to be key factors of their ice nucleation abilities. However, the mechanism of the process of ice nucleation by INPs is yet to be understood clearly. Here, we have performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and analyzed the structure and dynamics of the hydration layer around the proposed ice-nucleating surface of a model INP. Results are compared with the hydration of a topologically similar non-ice-binding protein (non-IBP) and another ice-growth inhibitory antifreeze protein (sbwAFP). We observed that the hydration structure around the ice-nucleating surface of INP is highly ordered and the dynamics of the hydration water are slower, compared to the non-IBP. Even the ordering of the hydration layer is more evident around the ice-binding surface of INP, compared to the antifreeze protein sbwAFP. Particularly with increasing repeat units of INP, we observe an increased population of ice-like water. Interestingly, the distances between the hydroxyl groups of the threonine ladder and its associated channel water of the ice-binding surface (IBS) of INP in the X and Y direction mimic the oxygen atom distances of the basal plane of hexagonal ice. However, the structural synergies between the hydroxyl group distances of the threonine ladder and its associated channel water of the IBS of sbwAFP and oxygen atom distances of the basal plane are less evident. This difference makes the IBS of the INP a better template for ice nucleation than AFP, although both of them bind to the ice surface efficiently.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Aich
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Prasun Pal
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Sandipan Chakraborty
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institution of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 5000046, India
| | - Biman Jana
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Memon H, Wang J, Hou X. Interdependence of Surface Roughness on Icephobic Performance: A Review. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4607. [PMID: 37444925 DOI: 10.3390/ma16134607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Ice protection techniques have attracted significant interest, notably in aerospace and wind energy applications. However, the current solutions are mostly costly and inconvenient due to energy-intensive and environmental concerns. One of the appealing strategies is the use of passive icephobicity, in the form of coatings, which is induced by means of several material strategies, such as hydrophobicity, surface texturing, surface elasticity, and the physical infusion of ice-depressing liquids, etc. In this review, surface-roughness-related icephobicity is critically discussed to understand the challenges and the role of roughness, especially on superhydrophobic surfaces. Surface roughness as an intrinsic, independent surface property for anti-icing and de-icing performance is also debated, and their interdependence is explained using the related physical mechanisms and thermodynamics of ice nucleation. Furthermore, the role of surface roughness in the case of elastomeric or low-modulus polymeric coatings, which typically instigate an easy release of ice, is examined. In addition to material-centric approaches, the influence of surface roughness in de-icing evaluation is also explored, and a comparative assessment is conducted to understand the testing sensitivity to various surface characteristics. This review exemplifies that surface roughness plays a crucial role in incorporating and maintaining icephobic performance and is intrinsically interlinked with other surface-induced icephobicity strategies, including superhydrophobicity and elastomeric surfaces. Furthermore, the de-icing evaluation methods also appear to be roughness sensitive in a certain range, indicating a dominant role of mechanically interlocked ice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Halar Memon
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Jie Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211167, China
| | - Xianghui Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Fiber Reinforced Light Composite Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zalazar M, Zypman F, Drori R. Micro-thermography for imaging ice crystal growth and nucleation inside non-transparent materials. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2023; 94:2887634. [PMID: 37125860 DOI: 10.1063/5.0142245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ice crystal growth and nucleation rate measurements are usually done using light microscopy in liquid and transparent samples. Yet, the understanding of important practical problems depends on monitoring ice growth inside solid materials, for example how rapid ice growth leads to structural damage of food, or how the final structure of cementitious materials is affected by ice during curing. Imaging crystal growth inside solid materials cannot be done with visible light and is intrinsically more challenging than visible light imaging. Thermography is a technique that uses thermal (infrared) cameras to monitor temperature changes in a material, and it has been used to provide a qualitative description of ice propagation with a low spatial resolution. Here, we describe a method that uses a novel micro-thermography system to image ice nucleation and growth inside non-transparent samples. This method relies on two major components: a cold stage with accurate temperature control (±0.001 °C) and a thermal camera with high spatial and temperature resolution. Our experiments include imaging of ice formation and growth in pure water first and then inside plant leaves used as a model for a non-transparent material. An ice growth rate of 2.2 mm/s was measured inside a plant leaf at -12 °C, and ice nucleation in single plant cells was observed as a hotspot having a diameter of 160 µm. The results presented here provide an experimental proof that high-quality imaging of ice growth is achievable, thus paving the way for quantitative measurements of ice growth kinetics and ice nucleation in solid materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Zalazar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stern College, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Fredy Zypman
- Department of Physics, Yeshiva College, New York, New York 10033, USA
| | - Ran Drori
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stern College, New York, New York 10016, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Brachypodium Antifreeze Protein Gene Products Inhibit Ice Recrystallisation, Attenuate Ice Nucleation, and Reduce Immune Response. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11111475. [PMID: 35684248 PMCID: PMC9182837 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) from the model crop, Brachypodium distachyon, allow freeze survival and attenuate pathogen-mediated ice nucleation. Intriguingly, Brachypodium AFP genes encode two proteins, an autonomous AFP and a leucine-rich repeat (LRR). We present structural models which indicate that ice-binding motifs on the ~13 kDa AFPs can “spoil” nucleating arrays on the ~120 kDa bacterial ice nucleating proteins used to form ice at high sub-zero temperatures. These models are consistent with the experimentally demonstrated decreases in ice nucleating activity by lysates from wildtype compared to transgenic Brachypodium lines. Additionally, the expression of Brachypodium LRRs in transgenic Arabidopsis inhibited an immune response to pathogen flagella peptides (flg22). Structural models suggested that this was due to the affinity of the LRR domains to flg22. Overall, it is remarkable that the Brachypodium genes play multiple distinctive roles in connecting freeze survival and anti-pathogenic systems via their encoded proteins’ ability to adsorb to ice as well as to attenuate bacterial ice nucleation and the host immune response.
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu Z, Zheng X, Wang J. Bioinspired Ice-Binding Materials for Tissue and Organ Cryopreservation. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5685-5701. [PMID: 35324185 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of tissues and organs can bring transformative changes to medicine and medical science. In the past decades, limited progress has been achieved, although cryopreservation of tissues and organs has long been intensively pursued. One key reason is that the cryoprotective agents (CPAs) currently used for cell cryopreservation cannot effectively preserve tissues and organs because of their cytotoxicity and tissue destructive effect as well as the low efficiency in controlling ice formation. In stark contrast, nature has its unique ways of controlling ice formation, and many living organisms can effectively prevent freezing damage. Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are regarded as the essential materials identified in these living organisms for regulating ice nucleation and growth. Note that controversial results have been reported on the utilization of IBPs and their mimics for the cryopreservation of tissues and organs, that is, some groups revealed that IBPs and mimics exhibited unique superiorities in tissues cryopreservation, while other groups showed detrimental effects. In this perspective, we analyze possible reasons for the controversy and predict future research directions in the design and construction of IBP inspired ice-binding materials to be used as new CPAs for tissue cryopreservation after briefly introducing the cryo-injuries and the challenges of conventional CPAs in the cryopreservation of tissues and organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Xia Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lukas M, Schwidetzky R, Eufemio RJ, Bonn M, Meister K. Toward Understanding Bacterial Ice Nucleation. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:1861-1867. [PMID: 35084861 PMCID: PMC8919256 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c09342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Bacterial ice nucleators
(INs) are among the most effective ice
nucleators known and are relevant for freezing processes in agriculture,
the atmosphere, and the biosphere. Their ability to facilitate ice
formation is due to specialized ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) anchored
to the outer bacterial cell membrane, enabling the crystallization
of water at temperatures up to −2 °C. In this Perspective,
we highlight the importance of functional aggregation of INPs for
the exceptionally high ice nucleation activity of bacterial ice nucleators.
We emphasize that the bacterial cell membrane, as well as environmental
conditions, is crucial for a precise functional INP aggregation. Interdisciplinary
approaches combining high-throughput droplet freezing assays with
advanced physicochemical tools and protein biochemistry are needed
to link changes in protein structure or protein–water interactions
with changes on the functional level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max Lukas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Mischa Bonn
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Konrad Meister
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska 99801, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Schwidetzky R, Sudera P, Backes AT, Pöschl U, Bonn M, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Meister K. Membranes Are Decisive for Maximum Freezing Efficiency of Bacterial Ice Nucleators. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:10783-10787. [PMID: 34723523 PMCID: PMC8591660 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) from Pseudomonas syringae are among the most active ice nucleators known, enabling ice formation at temperatures close to the melting point of water. The working mechanisms of INPs remain elusive, but their ice nucleation activity has been proposed to depend on the ability to form large INP aggregates. Here, we provide experimental evidence that INPs alone are not sufficient to achieve maximum freezing efficiency and that intact membranes are critical. Ice nucleation measurements of phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides show that these membrane components are not part of the active nucleation site but rather enable INP assembly. Substantially improved ice nucleation by INP assemblies is observed for deuterated water, indicating stabilization of assemblies by the stronger hydrogen bonds of D2O. Together, these results show that the degree of order/disorder and the assembly size are critically important in determining the extent to which bacterial INPs can facilitate ice nucleation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R. Schwidetzky
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - P. Sudera
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - A. T. Backes
- Max
Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - U. Pöschl
- Max
Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - M. Bonn
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - K. Meister
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- University
of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska 99801, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Schwidetzky R, Sun Y, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Kunert AT, Bonn M, Meister K. Ice Nucleation Activity of Perfluorinated Organic Acids. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:3431-3435. [PMID: 33789043 PMCID: PMC8040019 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) are widely used synthetic chemical compounds, highly resistant to environmental degradation. The widespread PFA contamination in remote regions such as the High Arctic implies currently not understood long-range atmospheric transport pathways. Here, we report that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) initiates heterogeneous ice nucleation at temperatures as high as -16 °C. In contrast, the eight-carbon octanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and deprotonated PFOA showed poor ice nucleating capabilities. The ice nucleation ability of PFOA correlates with the formation of a PFOA monolayer at the air-water interface, suggesting a mechanism in which the aligned hydroxyl groups of the carboxylic acid moieties provide a lattice matching to ice. The ice nucleation capabilities of fluorinated compounds like PFOA might be relevant for cloud glaciation in the atmosphere and the removal of these persistent pollutants by wet deposition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuling Sun
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Anna T. Kunert
- Max
Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Mischa Bonn
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Konrad Meister
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- University
of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska 99801, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Roy P, House ML, Dutcher CS. A Microfluidic Device for Automated High Throughput Detection of Ice Nucleation of Snomax ®. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:296. [PMID: 33799595 PMCID: PMC7998955 DOI: 10.3390/mi12030296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Measurement of ice nucleation (IN) temperature of liquid solutions at sub-ambient temperatures has applications in atmospheric, water quality, food storage, protein crystallography and pharmaceutical sciences. Here we present details on the construction of a temperature-controlled microfluidic platform with multiple individually addressable temperature zones and on-chip temperature sensors for high-throughput IN studies in droplets. We developed, for the first time, automated droplet freezing detection methods in a microfluidic device, using a deep neural network (DNN) and a polarized optical method based on intensity thresholding to classify droplets without manual counting. This platform has potential applications in continuous monitoring of liquid samples consisting of aerosols to quantify their IN behavior, or in checking for contaminants in pure water. A case study of the two detection methods was performed using Snomax® (Snomax International, Englewood, CO, USA), an ideal ice nucleating particle (INP). Effects of aging and heat treatment of Snomax® were studied with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and a microfluidic platform to correlate secondary structure change of the IN protein in Snomax® to IN temperature. It was found that aging at room temperature had a mild impact on the ice nucleation ability but heat treatment at 95 °C had a more pronounced effect by reducing the ice nucleation onset temperature by more than 7 °C and flattening the overall frozen fraction curve. Results also demonstrated that our setup can generate droplets at a rate of about 1500/min and requires minimal human intervention for DNN classification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyatanu Roy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Margaret L. House
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Cari S. Dutcher
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lukas M, Schwidetzky R, Kunert AT, Backus EHG, Pöschl U, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Bonn M, Meister K. Interfacial Water Ordering Is Insufficient to Explain Ice-Nucleating Protein Activity. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:218-223. [PMID: 33326244 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c03163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) found in bacteria are the most effective ice nucleators known, enabling the crystallization of water at temperatures close to 0 °C. Although their function has been known for decades, the underlying mechanism is still under debate. Here, we show that INPs from Pseudomonas syringae in aqueous solution exhibit a defined solution structure and show no significant conformational changes upon cooling. In contrast, irreversible structural changes are observed upon heating to temperatures exceeding ∼55 °C, leading to a loss of the ice-nucleation activity. Sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy reveals that active and heat-inactivated INPs impose similar structural ordering of interfacial water molecules upon cooling. Our results demonstrate that increased water ordering is not sufficient to explain INPs' high ice-nucleation activity and confirm that intact three-dimensional protein structures are critical for bacterial ice nucleation, supporting a mechanism that depends on the INPs' supramolecular interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max Lukas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Anna T Kunert
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ellen H G Backus
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich Pöschl
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Mischa Bonn
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Konrad Meister
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska 99801, United States
| |
Collapse
|