Glycine-Rich Antifreeze Proteins from Snow Fleas

Abstract

We purified antifreeze proteins from winter-active snow fleas, Hypogastrura harveyi. These 6.5- and 15.7-kilodalton thermolabile proteins are glycine-rich (45% of the residues), and the short isoform is composed of the tripeptide repeat Gly-X-X. This makes them very different from other antifreeze proteins, including two from insects, suggesting independent adaptation to freezing environments.