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Ice nucleation in freeze-tolerant vertebrates.

Author(s) : COSTANZO J. P., LEE R. E. Jr

Type of article: Article, Review

Summary

There are three hypotheses for the initiation of freezing in these animals. The available evidence indicates that ice inoculation by contact with ambiant ice is the most important mechanism under natural conditions, although ice-nucleating bacteria harboured in the gut or skin during winter may function as an auxiliary system to promote crystallization, albeit as slightly lower temperatures. Despite the intriguing similarities between the blood ice-nucleating agents of some vertebrates and those of certain freeze-tolerant invertebrates, these agents seem unlikely to play an analogous, adaptive role in freeze tolerance.

Details

  • Original title: Ice nucleation in freeze-tolerant vertebrates.
  • Record ID : 1997-0539
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Cryo-Letters - vol. 17 - n. 2
  • Publication date: 1996/03
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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