(11/12) Since AFP protects the agarose gel from freezing, we next examined whether AFP can protect an animal from freezing. The nometode Caenorhabditis elegans (left photo, movie) was selected as a model animal (body length ~ 2 mm), which was genetically modified to synthesize AFP in its body. A left photo shows the fluorescent C. elegans whose muscle in the body surface contains the green-fluorescence-protein (GFP)-labeled AFP. Numbers of C. elegans modified to synthesize AFP were frozen at -5 deg C for 24 hrs, and then melted to room temperature to examine whether they can recover or not. It appeared that 72 % of C. elegans are recovered [1], suggesting that AFP's function to arrest the ice block formation contributes to their cold-survival. We should however note that the stag beetle larvae that synthesize AFP were never recovered once they were frozen [2]. (->next) (->page1) (->home) |
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