Freeze Tolerance versus Freeze Avoidance
Species containing AFPs may be classified as:
Freeze avoidant: These species are able to prevent their body fluids from freezing altogether. Generally, the AFP function may be overcome at extremely cold temperatures, leading to rapid ice growth and death.
Freeze tolerant: These species are able to survive body fluid freezing. Some freeze tolerant species are thought to use AFPs as cryoprotectants to prevent the damages of freezing, but not freezing altogether. The exact mechanism is still unknown. However, it is thought AFPs may inhibit recrystallization and stabilize cell membranes to prevent damage by ice. They may work in conjunction with protein ice nucleators (PINs) to control the rate of ice propagation following freezing.
Read more about this topic: Antifreeze Protein
Famous quotes containing the words freeze, tolerance and/or avoidance:
“I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board. The hospitality was as cold as the ices. I thought that there was no need of ice to freeze them.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Children who begin life with an eagerness to please, need to know that not pleasing is also all right now and then. They learn tolerance for others’ faults through our tolerance of their own.”
—Cathy Rindner Tempelsman (20th century)
“The American Dream, the idea of the happy ending, is an avoidance of responsibility and commitment.”
—Jill Robinson (b. 1936)