In recent years, food loss has become a social problem, and it is expected to develop new storage technologies such as extension of the best-by date in refrigerated / frozen low-temperature storage and storage methods that do not require large-scale low-temperature storage facilities.Also, in organ transplantation, it is expected that the stable low temperature storage period will be extended.

　The research group has focused on the function of ice-binding protein (IBP), which strongly interacts with ice crystals, and this time, it has become a nematode that is difficult to survive in a low temperature environment. It was shown that when IBP is expressed by gene transfer technology, the survival rate is increased up to about 10 times.By suppressing the growth of ice crystals in the freezing temperature range, it was found that damage to the nematode body can be prevented and activity at the individual level can be maintained.In addition, it was confirmed that the survival rate increased even at 0 ° C, and it became clear that the cell protection function works even in an environment where there are not many ice crystals.

　Since the effect on survival rate differs depending on the site where the ice-binding protein is expressed, new low-temperature storage of transplanted organs and foods will be conducted by exploring the optimal introduction method and the possibility of introducing other molecules in the future. It is expected to lead to the development of technology and long-term room temperature storage technology.

Paper information:[Scientific Reports] Expression of Ice-Binding Proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans Improves the Survival Rate upon Cold Shock and during Freezing