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Characterization of Ice Binding Proteins from Sea Ice Algae

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Plant Cold Acclimation

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1166))

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Abstract

Several polar microalgae are able to live and thrive in the extreme environment found within sea ice, where growing ice crystals may cause mechanical damage to the cells and reduce the organisms’ living space. Among the strategies adopted by these organisms to cope with the harsh conditions in their environment, ice binding proteins (IBPs) seem to play a key role and possibly contribute to their success in sea ice. IBPs have the ability to control ice crystal growth. In nature they are widespread among sea ice microalgae, and their mechanism of function is of interest for manifold potential applications. Here we describe methods for a classical determination of the IBP activity (thermal hysteresis, recrystallization inhibition) and further methods for protein characterization (ice pitting assay, determination of the nucleating temperature).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, D-27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Maddalena Bayer-Giraldi

  2. Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    EonSeon Jin

  3. University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7000, Australia

    Peter W. Wilson

Authors
  1. Maddalena Bayer-Giraldi
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  2. EonSeon Jin
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  3. Peter W. Wilson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maddalena Bayer-Giraldi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut fĂĽr Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam, Germany

    Dirk K. Hincha

  2. Max-Planck-Institut fĂĽr Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam, Germany

    Ellen Zuther

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Bayer-Giraldi, M., Jin, E., Wilson, P.W. (2014). Characterization of Ice Binding Proteins from Sea Ice Algae. In: Hincha, D., Zuther, E. (eds) Plant Cold Acclimation. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1166. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0844-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0844-8_18

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0843-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0844-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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