Investigation on the motion suppression effect of water molecules by winter flounder antifreeze protein and ions using molecular dynamics analysis

Abstract

We have carried out molecular dynamics analysis for water with an ice wall, winter flounder antifreeze protein and ions to understand mechanism of a ‘synergistic effect’. This effect shows the freezing point of mixed solution is lower than the sum of the freezing point of antifreeze protein solution and the freezing point of salt solution. It is found that movement of water molecules is more inhibited by the interaction of antifreeze protein and ions than the movement of water moleculars in each single-solute solution. This may be due to the fact that the antifreeze protein strengthens hydration shell around sodium ions.