Stabilization of insect cell membranes and soluble enzymes by accumulated cryoprotectants during freezing stress.

ABSTRACT: Most multicellular organisms are freeze sensitive, but the ability to survive freezing of the extracellular fluids evolved in several vertebrate ectotherms, some plants, and many insects. Here, we test the coupled hypotheses that are perpetuated in the literature: that irreversible denaturation of proteins and loss of biological membrane integrity are two ultimate molecular mechanisms of freezing injury in freeze-sensitive insects and that seasonally accumulated small cryoprotective molecules (CPs) stabilize proteins and membranes against injury in freeze-tolerant insects. Using the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata, we show that seven different soluble enzymes exhibit no or only partial loss of activity upon lethal freezing stress applied in vivo to whole freeze-sensitive larvae.

SUBMITTER: Grgac R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9564827 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature