抗冻蛋白质——转移冷冻抗性的前景

大量的海洋栖息的动物和陆地的昆虫都能产生大分子的抗冻物质,以有助于它们生存在它们的不被保护的血液和血淋巴的体液的冰点之下的温度环境中。用这些抗冻物质结合和抑制冰晶生长的非浓度相关的方式。这样它们对一旦冰晶形成后的冰的融点就没有多大的影响了,所以研究者比较确切地将这类物质描述为热滞留蛋白质,因此这些蛋白质就成了检测抗冻能力的基础。     

昆虫低温生物学:Ⅱ.冰核物质(冰核蛋白)和昆虫的耐冻性

体系在低于熔点温度时才结冰的现象 ,叫过冷却 (supercooling)。体系开始结冰时的温度称为过冷却点 (supercooling point,SCP)。在适当的低温 ,体系内需存在一起始结冰的冰核 ,才能诱导冰晶产生 ,此物质称为冰核剂 (icenucleating agents,INA)。昆虫体内各腔室充满组织液 ,各腔室 (如消化系统和细胞内 )因所含 INA的冰核活性的不同 ,而使结冰的温度各异 ,所受低温伤害也不同。冰核常存在于昆虫血淋巴内 ,提高溶液的 SCP,降低其过冷却能力 ,引起胞外结冰。冰核物质的活性越高 ,SCP越高 ,虫体也能在较高的低温结冰。昆虫体内有不同性质…     

植物抗冻蛋白研究进展

抗冻蛋白(AFPs)最初是从极区海鱼中发现的一种适应低温的特异蛋白质, 它能阻止体液内冰核的形成与生长,维持体液的非冰冻状态.对近年来植物AFPs的发现过程,AFP的生化特性,抗冻作用机制,抗冻蛋白基因工程及其应用前景等作了系统的综述.     

冰核真菌削弱赤拟谷盗抗寒力的初步研究

赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum是不耐结冰的害虫,在冬季它通过降低过冷却点以避免结冰造成的致命伤害。冰核活性细菌能显著提高昆虫的过冷却点,使之在较高的零下温度发生结冰。试验证明冰核活性真菌也能显著提高赤拟谷盗的过冷却点。对照组平均过冷却点为-14.9℃。用10 g/L的冰核真菌制剂喷洒虫体,风干后测定,平均过冷却点提高到-4.8℃。用0.1 g/L处理后至少在7天内过冷却点保持较高。这些结果表明冰核真菌可能成为一种在冬季使用的、防治不耐结冰害虫的促冻杀虫剂。     

细菌冰核提高印度谷螟过冷却点的研究

印度谷螟(Plodia interpunctella)是一种不耐结冰的昆虫,在冬季它通过降低过冷却 点以避免结冰。现已查明,冰核活性细菌能显著提高植物的过冷却点,导致许多作物在较高 的温度下发生霜冻害。本文也证明细菌冰核能显著提高印度谷螟虫的过冷却点。对照的平均过冷却点是-17.6℃;分别用0.1g和1g细菌冰核与1kg面粉混合后进行处理,平均过冷却点分别比对照提高了12.8℃和13.6℃。研究结果支持这样的观点：细菌冰核有可能成为一种在冬季使用的、杀灭不耐结冰害虫的生物制剂。     

细菌冰核提高印度谷螟过冷却点的研究

印度谷螟（Ｐｌｏｄｉａｉｎｔｅｒｐｕｎｃｔｅｌｌａ）是一种不耐结冰的昆虫,在冬季它通过降低过冷却点以避免结冰。现已查明,冰核活性细菌能显著提高植物的过冷却点,导致许多作物在较高的温度下发生霜冻害。本文也评明细菌冰核能显著提高印度谷螟幼虫的过冷却点。对照的平均过冷却点是－１７．６℃;分别用０．１ｇ和１ｇ细菌冰核与１ｋｇ面粉混合后进行处理,平均过冷却点分别比对照提高了１２．８℃和１３．６℃。研究结果支持这样的观点：细菌冰核有可能成为一种在冬季使用的、杀灭不耐结冰害虫的生物制剂。     

昆虫耐寒性研究

昆虫是变温动物,气候变化是造成种群季节消长的基本原因之一。尤其在不良的低温环境中,昆虫耐寒力的高低是其种群存在与发展的种要前提,昆虫对低温的适应能力及其机理也因而成为昆虫生态学和生物进化研究中的一个深受重视的问题,本文论述了与耐寒性直接相关的过冷却点昆虫的抗寒对策,明确了昆虫耐寒性的一些基本概念,一方面从环境影响昆虫的角度对耐寒性的一般规律,如季节性变化,地理变异快速冷驯化的作用等做了简要的概念括,另一方面阐述了昆虫适应环境的生理生化机制,包括低分子量的抗冻物质的产生,冰核剂的作用及抗冻蛋白的功能等做了简要的概括,另一方面简单述了昆虫适应环境的生理生化机制,包括低分子量的抗冻物质的产生,冰核剂的作用及抗冻蛋白的功能等。强调昆虫与环境相互作用过程中的生态生理适应,并指出昆虫耐寒性应当与生活史中别的因素联系起来,这样才能对耐寒性有一个更加全面的理解。     

昆虫抗冻蛋白: 规则结构适应功能

抗冻蛋白在环境温度低于体液熔点时能够结合到生物体内的冰核表面,通过限制冰核生长和抑制冰晶重结晶而保护有机体免受结冰引起的伤害。与其他生物抗冻蛋白比较,昆虫抗冻蛋白有很强的活性,结构上具有显著特征,如一级结构规律重复,超二级结构为β-螺旋,可与冰晶发生相互作用,具有TXT基序等。该文综述了近年来关于昆虫抗冻蛋白的结构以及分子生物学等方面研究的新进展,讨论了其结构与功能的关系。     

一种昆虫过冷却点的简易测定装置

在前人的研究基础上改进了利用热敏电阻测定昆虫过冷却点和体液冰点的装置,经检验其准确度与常用的热电偶法基本相同,但其测定成功率较高,使用方便。本装置先录制热敏电阻值变化的全过程,便于随时调出并准确地读出过冷却点与体液冰点的热敏电阻值;开发了操作方便的昆虫夹,明显缩短了测定时间,提高了测定效率,可用于定期的、连续的昆虫过冷却点与体液冰点的批量测定。     

冰核真菌研究进展

水在０℃以下仍未结冰的现象称为水的过冷却作用,小体积纯净水的过冷却温度可接近－４０℃。引起水从液态向固态转变的物质称冰核,不同种类冰核催化活性差异很大,非生物冰核可在－１０℃左右诱发小体积水结冰,而自然界中活性最强的冰核来自生物体,已报道某些细菌（如Pseudomonas syringae和Erwinia hericola的一些菌株）可产生在－１℃～－２℃下催化水结冰的冰核。研究者将一些可以产生在－５℃以上具有冰核活性冰核的生物称为冰核生物。自１９７４年Ｍａｋｉ［１］首次从赤杨树叶中分离到在－２℃～－５℃下诱发植物结冰发生霜冻的…     

PROGRESS IN THE RESEARCH ON MECHANISM OF INSECT COLD-HARDINESS

Abstract A number of freeze-tolerant insect species contain proteins/lipoproteins or insoluble crystals that are ice nucleating active at relatively high subzero temperatures. Recently ice nucleating active bacteria and fungi have been identified as normal flora in insect guts. However, most insects are unable to survive internal ice formation and the key factor in their overwintering survival is the regulation of the temperature at which they spontaneously freeze. To enhance their supercooling capacity overwintering insects eliminate endogenous ice nucleators, accumulate low molecular weight polyols and sugars, and synthesize hemolymph antifreeze proteins or peptides. The factors affecting the supercooling capacity of overwintering insects or the mechanism of cold-hardiness are discussed.     

Maintenance of the supercooled state in the gut fluid of overwintering pyrochroid beetle larvae, Dendroides canadensis : role of ice nucleators and antifreeze proteins

  The effect of gut fluid ice nucleators and antifreeze proteins on maintenance of supercooling was explored in fire-colored beetle larvae, Dendroides canadensis, via seasonal monitoring of supercooling points, antifreeze protein activity and ice nucleator activity of gut fluid and/or larvae. During cold hardening in the field, freeze-avoiding larvae evacuated their guts and depressed larval supercooling points. Analysis of gut fluid indicated supercooling points and ice nucleator activity decreased, whereas antifreeze protein activity increased as winter approached. Suspensions of bacteria isolated from guts of feeding larvae collected in spring/summer had higher supercooling points than those from midwinter-collected non-feeding larvae, suggesting bacterial ice nucleators are removed from midwinter gut fluid. The ice nucleation active bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens was isolated from gut fluid of feeding larvae but was absent in winter. When mixed with purified D.␣canadensis hemolymph antifreeze proteins (structurally similar and/or identical to those in gut fluid), the cumulative ice nucleus spectra of P. fluorescens suspensions were shifted to lower temperatures indicating an inhibitory effect on the bacteria's ice-nucleating phenotype. By extending larval supercooling capacity, both gut clearing and masking of bacterial ice nucleators by antifreeze proteins may contribute to overwintering survival in supercooled insects. Accepted: 8 August 1996     

Reduction of insect cold-hardiness using ice-nucleating active fungi and surfactants

The supercooling point (SCP) of an insect model, the lady beetle Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Menéville (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) was markedly elevated by treatment with aqueous suspensions of the filamentous, ice nucleation active (INA) fungi Fusarium avenaceum and slightly elevated by Fusarium acuminatum. Addition of the surfactant Tween 80 to the fungal suspensions further reduced the supercooling capacity of adult beetles. When used alone the surfactant Triton X-100 produced a greater SCP elevation than Tween 20 or Tween 80. The emulsifier gum arabic was ineffective in elevating beetle SCPs when applied alone and when added to INA fungal preparations it decreased their efficacy. Aqueous suspensions of both viable sporulating and viable pleomorphic (a permanent, degenerative, nonsporulating cultural state) forms of both fungal species were more effective in elevating the SCP than killed preparations except for the pleomorphic F. acuminatum suspension in which the killed form was slightly more active. Application of INA fungi applied in combination with surfactants may be useful in the development of methods for the biological control of overwintering freeze-susceptible insect pests by decreasing their capacity to avoid lethal freezing by supercooling.     

Insect antifreezes and ice-nucleating agents

Cold-tolerant, freeze-susceptible insects (those which die if frozen) survive subzero temperatures by proliferating antifreeze solutes which lower the freezing and supercooling points of their body fluids. These antifreezes are of two basic types. Lowmolecular-weight polyhydroxy alcohols and sugars depress the freezing point of water on a colligative basis, although at higher concentrations these solutes may deviate from linearity. Recent studies have shown that these solutes lower the supercooling point of aqueous solutions approximately two times more than they depress the freezing point. Consequently, if a freeze-susceptible insect accumulates sufficient glycerol to lower the freezing point by 5 °C, then the glycerol should depress the insect's supercooling point by 10 °C.Some cold-tolerant, freeze-susceptible insects produce proteins which produce a thermal hysteresis (a difference between the freezing and melting point) of several degrees in the body fluids. These thermal hysteresis proteins (THPs) are similar to the antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins of polar marine teleost fishes. The THPs lower the freezing, and presumably the supercooling, point by a noncolligative mechanism. Consequently, the insect can build up these antifreezes, and thereby gain protection from freezing, without the disruptive increases in osmotic pressure which accompany the accumulation of polyols or sugars. Therefore the THPs can be more easily accumulated and maintained during warm periods in anticipation of subzero temperatures. It is not surprising then that photoperiod, as well as temperature, is a critical environmental cue in the control of THP levels in insects.Some species of freeze-tolerant insects also produce THPs. This appears somewhat odd, since most freeze-tolerant insects produce ice nucleators which function to inhibit supercooling and it is therefore not clear why such an insect would produce antifreeze proteins. It is possible that the THPs have an alternate function in these species. However, it also appears that the THPs function as antifreezes during those periods of the year when these insects are not freeze tolerant (i.e., early autumn and spring) but when subzero temperatures could occur. In addition, at least one freeze-tolerant insect which produces THPs, Dendroides canadensis, typically loses freeze tolerance during midwinter thaws and then regains tolerance. The THPs could be important during those periods when Dendroides loses freeze tolerance by making the insect less susceptible to sudden temperature decreases.Comparatively little is known of the biochemistry of insect THPs. However, comparisons of those few insect THPs which have been purified with the THPs of fishes show some interesting differences. The insect THPs lack the large alanine component commonly found in the fish THPs. In addition, the insect THPs generally contain greater percentages of hydrophilic amino acids than do those of the fish. Perhaps the most interesting insect THPs are those from Tenebrio molitor which have an extremely large cysteine component (28% in one THP). Studies on the primary and higher-order structure of the insect THPs need to be carried out so that more critical comparisons with the fish THPs can be made. This may provide important insights into the mechanisms of freezing point and supercooling point depression exhibited by these molecules. In addition, comparative studies of the freezing and supercooling point depressing activities of the various THPs, in relation to their structures, should prove most interesting.It has become increasingly apparent over the last few years that most freeze-tolerant insects, unlike freeze-susceptible species, inhibit supercooling by accumulating ice-nucleating agents in their hemolymph. These nucleators function to ensure that ice formation occurs in the extracellular fluid at fairly high temperatures, thereby minimizing the possibility of formation of lethal intracellular ice. Little is known of the nature of the insect ice-nucleating agents. Those few which have been studied are heat sensitive and nondialyzable and are inactivated by proteolytic enzymes, thus indicating that they are proteinaceous. Studies on the structure-function relationships of these unique molecules should be done.     

Maintenance of the supercooled state in overwintering pyrochroid beetle larvae, Dendroides canadensis : role of hemolymph ice nucleators and antifreeze proteins

Freeze-avoiding fire-colored beetle larvae, Dendroides canadensis, were monitored seasonally to explore the role of endogenous hemolymph ice nucleators and antifreeze proteins on the maintenance of supercooling. In preparation for overwintering, D. canadensis depressed hemolymph ice nucleator activity and increased thermal hysteresis activity [mean value circa 0. 5 °C (summer) versus circa 5 °C (midwinter)] resulting in decreased larval and hemolymph supercooling points [−7 °C (summer) versus −20 °C (midwinter)]. Results of gel filtration chromatography, flotation ultracentifugation and quantitative investigation of ice nucleator activity using hemolymph from summer and winter collected larvae strongly suggest that highly active protein and lipoprotein ice nucleators are removed in preparation for overwintering. Additions of either purified antifreeze proteins or midwinter hemolymph with high antifreeze protein activity to a mixture of protein or lipoprotein ice nucleators isolated from D. canadensis hemolymph inhibited the activity of these nucleators. This suggests that in addition to seasonal removal, inhibition of hemolymph ice nucleators by antifreeze proteins contributes to seasonal increases in hemolymph supercooling capacity. Accepted: 8 August 1996     

Freeze-tolerance adaptations,including haemolymph protein and lipoprotein nucleators,in the larvae of the cranefly Tipula trivittata

The terrestrial overwintering larvae of the cranefly Tipula trivittata were freeze tolerant (able to survive the freezing of their extracellular body fluids) throughout the winter and spring of 1982–1983 until they pupated in mid-May. The larvae were most cold tolerant (24 h lower lethal temperatures of ?25 to ?30°C) in late January and early February. Sorbitol, at a maximal concentration of ～0.4 M, was the only polyol determined to be present at high levels and sorbitol accounted for most of the seasonal fluctuation in osmotic concentration. Haemolymph inorganic ion (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^?) concentrations did not vary seasonally.The supercooling points of the larvae remained constant at ?6 to ?7°C over the study period because of the presence of haemolymph ice nucleating factors. These ice nucleating factors consist not only of haemolymph proteins, as had been demonstrated previously in other insect species, but also lipoproteins.     

Ice nucleation studies of two beetles from sub-antarctic South Georgia

Summary Supercooling points of adults and larvae of the coleopterans Hydromedion sparsutum and Perimylops antarcticus at South Georgia ranged from -3.0 to -5.4°C with Perimylops freezing at c.1.6°C lower than Hydromedion. Intact excised guts from adults of both species froze c. 1°C lower than the adult insects. Ice nucleating activity of homogenized faeces from larvae and adults of both species and excised guts were compared with three potential food plants using an ice nucleation spectrometer. Mean supercooling points of the insect materials at four concentrations in distilled water (range from 0.01 to 10 g 1^–1) were significantly different (P<0.01) within species, and within life stages between species. Differences in the supercooling points of suspensions of Polytrichum alpinum (moss) and Usnea fasciata (lichen) were not significant. In general, differences between supercooling points were greater at the higher concentrations. Histograms of the supercooling points showed unimodal distributions particularly at high concentrations and greater dispersion with increased dilution. Spectra showing the concentration of active ice nucleators over the temperature range 0 to -20°C were developed. These showed that nucleation occurred as high as -2°C in faecal material and all insect samples nucleated above -3°C, whereas the plant materials nucleated between -4 and -5°C. The calculated number of ice nucleators for each material in suspension revealed low values (5.3 to 5.8 × 10³) for the plants, but a greater abundance (1.3 × 10⁵ to 1.3 × 10⁶) in the insect samples. It is concluded that c.1000 active nucleators g^–1 are required for ice nucleation to occur in these suspensions. Ice nucleator activity of a suspension of Hydromedion faeces was much reduced by heating to 75°C, suggesting a proteinaceous structure. These results are discussed in relation to ice nucleation in other insects, and it is concluded that bacteria may be responsible for the high nucleation temperatures, and hence poor supercooling, in these South Georgia insects. An empirical model is developed for ice nucleation spectra based on these data.     

Cold-hardiness of the arctic beetle, Pytho americanus Kirby Coleoptera,Pythidae (Salpingidae)

The arctic beetle, Pytho americanus Kirby, is frost tolerant in both larval and adult stages. This is the first demonstration that an insect can tolerate freezing in more than one life stage, a situation which would be congruous with its northern distribution and allow it to spread its life cycle over a number of growing seasons. The main biochemical correlates during the cold hardening process of low temperature acclimation are increasing glycerol and decreasing glycogen concentrations. Glycerol is the only polyol to be synthesized during acclimation, and it accumulates to a maximum of 8.2 and 12.2% of the fresh body weight in larvae and adults respectively. This coincides with the peak of frost tolerance. In addition to its normally assumed roles in cryoprotection it is suggested that glycerol may further serve to minimize dehydration in the overwintering insect by increasing the level of ‘bound’ water. Evidence is presented that indicates that glycerol is synthesized mainly from carbohydrate reserves, especially glycogen, but it does not rule out the possibility that a proportion of free glycerol comes from glyceride sources.P. americanus larvae and adults have low supercooling potential and maintain their supercooling points in the region of ?4° to ?8°C. It is hypothesized that these elevated supercooling points are a result of the presence in the haemolymph of nucleating agents which ensure ice formation at high sub-zero temperatures. It is believed that this beetle overwinters in a frozen state within its microhabitat, which is under bark of fallen spruce which is, in turn, covered by an insulating blanket of snow. The advantages of this overwintering strategy are discussed.