In order to investigate how Antarctic fish deal with ice in
their blood circulatory system, Trematomus bernacchii and
Pagothenia borchgrevinki Antarctic fish were captured for
experimental investigation. A variety of biochemical techniques
were used to isolate Anti-Freeze Glyco-Proteins (AFGPs) from
Antarctic fish blood, which was then conjugated directly to a
fluorescent marker. We synthesised ... silicon dioxide nanobeads
incorporating a fluorescent probe and coupled these to AFGP via
a multimeric linking protein or dendrimer based on G4.5
poly(amidoamine). These modified nanobeads, consisting of a
fluorescent particle surrounded by AFGPs, were designed to serve
as a proxy for ice crystals that have bound AFGPs. When
introduced into the circulation of the fish, we were able to
follow the fate of free fluorescent AFGP and particle-bound
fluorescent AFGP (the latter serving as a proxy for ice in the
circulation). Frozen and alcohol-fixed tissues were returned to
New Zealand for further laboratory analysis. Pr