• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Exploring the Influence of Antifreeze Proteins from Cold-adapted Beetles on Thermal Inhibition of Enzymes

Graduate #35
Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Biochemistry (not Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics)

Rebecca Vargas - California State University, Los Angeles


Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are known for playing a protective role in keeping organisms, such as fish and insects, from freezing during extreme weather. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transcripts of AFP genes are in a summer desert beetle Microdera punctipennis and the AFPs (MpAFPs) have a thermal protective function, suggesting that these AFPs have a novel protective mechanism. The widely studied AFPs from cold-adapted beetles, such as the AFPs from Dendroides canadensis (DAFP) and Tenebrio molitor (TmAFP) are found at high levels in the winter hemolymphs and have very similar to that of MpAFP.

We hypothesize that the beetle AFPs having very similar structures to MpAFPs (e.g., DAFP and TmAFP) will exhibit similar behaviors as MpAFPs and further protect the enzyme of interest by exploiting novel roles of AFPs. DAFP and TmAFP will be purified and isolated using our previously published procedures. Standard enzymatic assays will be performed on model enzymes, such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH), before and after thermal treatments at different temperatures (e.g., 42, 50 and and 65°C). Then the enzyme activity will also be measured after the above mentioned thermal treatments in the presence of the AFPs. The data will be compared and analyzed and the effects of the AFPs on the thermal inhibition of the enzymes will be demonstrated. The thermal protective mechanism by the AFPs will be discussed and suggested in this work.

Not Submitted

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant # HRD-1463889.

Faculty Advisor: Xin Wen, xwen3@calstatela.edu

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science