Antifreeze protein

Function

Antifreeze protein (AFP) permits the survival of certain organisms in subzero temperatures. AFP binds to small ice crystals thus inhibiting their growth.

• For winter flounder antifreeze protein type I see User:Mary Ball/AFP.
  
• For snow flea antifreeze protein see Sandox 2pne
• For insect antifreeze protein see RiAFP
• For yellow mealworm antifreeze protein see Tenebrio molitor Antifreeze Protein (TmAFP).

Relevance

AFPs are added to ice cream and yogurt. AFPs are tested as freeze tolerant for crops, cryosurgery, hypothermia therapy, food preservation and tissue transplant preservation.

Structural highlights

AFP flat surface presents Thr residues at distances which match those of the primary prism plane of ice thus allowing for favorable interactions between the protein and ice crystals.