植物抗冻蛋白研究进展

Progress in Study of Plant Antifreeze Proteins

抗冻蛋白（ＡＦＰｓ）最初是从极区海鱼中发现的一种适应低温的特异蛋白质，它能阻止体液内冰核的形成与生长，维持体液的非冰冻状态．对近年来植物ＡＦＰｓ的发现过程，ＡＦＰ的生化特性，抗冻作用机制，抗冻蛋白基因工程及其应用前景等作了系统的综述．

Antifreeze proteins(AFPs),which depress the freezing point of water below the melting point (producing a characteristic thermal hysteresis),are well known for their antifreeze activity in both fish and terrestrial arthropods, but have only recently been identified in plants. The discovery, biochemical characteristics and the role in freezing tolerance of plant AFPs have been reviewed. Furthermore, the general mechanism of depressing the freezing point of water of AFPs has been discussed. The discovery of AFPs intrinsically produced by frosttolerant plant is very significant. Isolation and characterization of genes for AFPs may provide the targeting information essential for the successful transformation of freezingsensitive crops and fruits with genes encoding AFPs.