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出典:『Wikipedia』 (2011/08/04 16:05 UTC 版)

英語による解説

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A cryoprotectant is a substance that is used to protect biological tissue from freezing damage (damage due to ice formation). Arctic and Antarctic insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles create cryoprotectants (antifreeze compounds and antifreeze proteins) in their bodies to minimize freezing damage during cold winter periods. Insects most often use sugars or polyols as cryoprotectants. Arctic frogs use glucose, but Arctic salamanders create glycerol in their livers for use as cryoprotectant. Cryoprotectants operate simply by increasing the solute concentration in cells. However, in order to be biologically viable they must (1) easily penetrate cells, and (2) not be toxic to the cell.