Intracellular antifreeze polypeptides and nucleic acids
AssigneeHSC Research and Development Limited Partnership
InventorsChoy Hew, Zhiyuan Gong
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Abstract
A family of related intracellular skin type antifreeze polypeptides and corresponding coding nucleic acids are provided. These are the first skin type intracellular antifreeze polypeptides and coding nucleic acids ever reported. The polypeptides are naturally expressed in the skin of Winter Flounder, and skin specific promoters are also provided. The polypeptides are used to make cells cold-resistant, and to improve the palatability of cold foods and liquids. Cold resistant eukaryotes and prokaryotes, including plants, animals and bacteria are made using the skin-type intracellular antifreeze polypeptides and nucleic acids.
Claims14
An isolated skin-type intracellular antifreeze polypeptide, wherein
- the polypeptide comprises an N terminal Met-Asp-Ala-Pro (SEQ ID NO:1) subsequence;
- the polypeptide comprises an internal Ala-Ala-Thr-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala (SEQ ID NO:2) subsequence;
- the polypeptide does not comprise a signal sequence;
- the polypeptide induces a concentration-dependent decrease in the freezing point of an aqueous solution;
- and,
- conservative modifications thereof.
A method of making an aqueous composition resistant to freezing, comprising adding a skin-type antifreeze polypeptide to the composition in an amount sufficient to change the thermal hysteresis of the composition, wherein the skin-type antifreeze polypeptide comprises an N terminal Met-Asp-Ala-Pro (SEQ ID NO:1) subsequence, and an internal Ala-Ala-Thr-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala (SEQ ID NO:2) subsequence;
- and wherein the polypeptide does not comprise a signal sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.