Effects of preheating on ice growth in antifreeze polypeptides solutions in a narrow space

Abstract

We conducted measurements on the unidirectional freezing of aqueous solutions of polypeptide or of winter flounder antifreeze protein. The polypeptide was based on a part of the antifreeze protein. We measured temperatures in the solutions and ice with a small thermocouple, and defined the interface temperature as the temperature at the tip of the serrated or pectinate interface. It was found that the interface temperature of these solutions was lower than that of pure water. To vary the activity of these solutes, we preheated the solutions and cooled them before conducting the measurements. We found that preheating for several hours caused further decreases in the interface temperature and a decrease in the interface velocity. In addition, the inclined interfaces became wider as a result of the preheating. Thus, the supercooled states in the solutions were enhanced by the preheating. To investigate the reasons for these changes, we measured the aggregates of the solutes in the solutions. These aggregates became larger as a result of preheating. It can therefore be concluded that these large aggregates attenuated the ice growth by their interaction with the ice surfaces.