Freezing behavior of aqueous solutions of glycoproteins from the blood of an Antarctic fish

The freezing point-depressing glycoproteins from Antartic fishes are not concentrated, or are only slightly concentrated in the liquid phase during freezing. In contrast, glycoproteins whose structure has been slightly modified causing loss of the unusual freezing point depressing activity are concentrated in the liquid phase during freezing. These data support the theory that the glycoproteins function by binding to the surface of “seed” ice crystals thus effectively removing them as nucleation sites.