Two-Dimensional Adsorption Model For Thermal Hysteresis Activity Of Antifreeze Proteins

The equilibrium characteristics of the adsorption between ice crystal surfaces and AFPs(antifreeze proteins) with different structures are investigated. The coverage of AFPs on ice crystal surfaces has been obtained. Based on these results, the relative problems about thermal hysteresis are discussed.The results of experiment suggest two important aspects on the function of AFPs: (a) AFPs' recognition of the ice surface is an important first step in their functions. The exact nature of the recognition is determined by the fundamental molecular interaction processes of AFPs bind in a set of adsorption sites on the surface of ice crystals, (b) The phenomenon of thermal hysteresis depends on the fractions of ice crystal surface covered by AFP molecules. And the surface coverage is determined by factors such as shape of AFP molecular, the number of consecutive lattice sites that occupied by each AFP molecular and the affinity of AFP molecular to the ice surface.As AFPs tend to adopt different structure, the precise antifreeze mechanism for different kinds of AFPs binding to ice crystals to inhibit ice growth is also expected to be different. But the feature of all kinds of AFPs is that they can adsorb on ice crystal surfaces. And thermal activity is determined by the AFPs that adsorb on ice crystal surfaces. So, it is important to find the coverage of AFPs on ice crystal surfaces in the given the concentration of AFPs solution for understanding the mechanism of thermal activity.According to the properties of AFPs within the interfacial region of ice and...