en.Wedoany.com Reported - A joint US-German research team recently published their findings in the journal *Science Advances*, successfully identifying an ice nucleation protein from fungi in the Mucoraceae family. This protein can induce crystallization at relatively high sub-zero temperatures, offering a new biological solution for food freezing and artificial rain enhancement.
The research was conducted collaboratively by Virginia Tech, Boise State University, the University of Utah, and Germany's Max Planck Institute. Utilizing the latest DNA sequencing technology, the team precisely located the specific gene responsible for synthesizing this protein. Unlike the intact bacterial cells relied upon by industrial ice-making, this fungal protein requires only a single molecule to initiate the ice crystal formation process. Professor Boris Vinatzer of Virginia Tech pointed out that this method holds significant advantages in food production due to its clearly defined components and the absence of other impurities from bacterial cells.
Samantha Bryan, Head of Biotechnology at the University of Nottingham, analyzed that compared to bacterial proteins, the fungal protein does not require membrane binding and has better water solubility, greatly simplifying the purification process. Current research has confirmed that this protein can be heterologously expressed in bacteria and yeast, laying the foundation for large-scale production. However, Bryan also emphasized that the current laboratory yield only reaches nanomolar concentrations, and scaling up production is still needed for industrial-level applications.
Beyond the food industry, this technology also holds potential in meteorological engineering. Currently, silver iodide particles are primarily used for artificial rain enhancement, while the fungal protein offers a more environmentally friendly alternative. Vinatzer stated that if low-cost mass production can be achieved, dispersing it into cloud layers could significantly improve rainfall efficiency while reducing environmental risks.
The project received funding from the US National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The research team's next steps will focus on increasing protein expression levels and analyzing its structural stability in extreme environments to advance the transition from laboratory to industrial applications.
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