Over The Horizon

Interest in Cold Fish

Biochemists from the University of Otago are studying the enzymes of Antarctic fish in an effort to understand how these animals can survive and live normal -- if slightly slower lives than their normal relatives -- in sea temperatures of -2^oC.

The enzymes from Antarctic fish are to be compared with those of their normal temperature relatives to determine the changes responsible for cold adaptation. The researchers will look at the differences in enzyme activity and structure between the two.

"Understanding the effects of cold on enzyme structure will help us to understand more about the way proteins fold, one of the most interesting biological questions," says researcher Craig Marshall. "We also believe that understanding how cold-adapted enzymes function may be useful in industry. For example, enzymes that can work at cold-storage temperatures where bacterial growth is inhibited may be useful to the food processing industry."