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INSECT ANTIFREEZES AND ICE-NUCLEATING AGENTS.

Author(s) : DUMAN J. G.

Type of article: Article

Summary

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. RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THESE SOLUTES LOWER THE SUPERCOOLING POINT OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS APPROXIMATELY TWO TIMES MORE THAN THEY DEPRESS THE FREEZING POINT. 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.

Details

  • Original title: INSECT ANTIFREEZES AND ICE-NUCLEATING AGENTS.
  • Record ID : 1983-1991
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Cryobiology - vol. 19 - n. 6
  • Publication date: 1982

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