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Antifreeze proteins in the Antarctic springtail, Gressittacantha terranova

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Abstract

Antarctic springtails are exemplars of extreme low temperature adaptation in terrestrial arthropods. This paper represents the first examination of such adaptation in the springtail, Gressittacantha terranova. Acclimatization state was measured in field-fresh samples over a 22-day period at the beginning of the austral summer. No evidence of temperature tracking was observed. Mean temperature of crystallization (T c) for all samples was −20.67 ± 0.32°C and the lowest T c recorded was −32.62°C. Ice affinity purification was used to collect antifreeze proteins (AFPs) from springtail homogenate. The purified ice fraction demonstrated both thermal hysteresis activity and recrystallisation inhibition. Growth-melt observations revealed that ice crystals grow normal to the c-axis (basal plane). Reverse-phased HPLC produce one clearly resolved peak (P1) and one compound peak (P2). Mass spectrometry identified the molecular mass of P1 as 8,599 Da. The P1 protein was also the most prominent in P2, although additional peptides of 6–7 KDa were also prominent. The main AFP of the Antarctic springtail, G. terranova has been isolated, although like other AFP-expressing arthropods, it shows evidence of expressing a family of AFPs.

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Abbreviations

AFP:

Antifreeze protein

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatography

RI:

Recrystallisation inhibition

T c :

Temperature of crystallization

TH:

Thermal hysteresis

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Acknowledgments

TCH was funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Thanks to Antarctic NZ for logistical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    T. C. Hawes & D. A. Wharton

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    C. J. Marshall

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  1. T. C. Hawes
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  2. C. J. Marshall
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  3. D. A. Wharton
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Correspondence to T. C. Hawes.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Hawes, T.C., Marshall, C.J. & Wharton, D.A. Antifreeze proteins in the Antarctic springtail, Gressittacantha terranova . J Comp Physiol B 181, 713–719 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-011-0564-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-011-0564-4

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