Antifreeze protein

2000/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia

A team of researchers from the Canadian University of Queen's and the University of Alberta found a very special protein in insects. The protein has the form of beta propeller (anomalous aspect) that allows insects to resist temperatures of -30ºC.

Four years ago similar proteins were found in Arctic fish. It seems that thanks to its structure the proteins join the ice crystals and do not let them grow. The same occurs in insects, but their protein is 100 times stronger than that of Arctic fish.

Researchers believe that these proteins can have interesting applications in agriculture and in the frozen food industry.