COMPARISON OF ANTIFREEZE GLYCOPEPTIDES FROM SEVERAL ANTARCTIC FISHES

Antifreeze glycopeptides were isolated from 8 spp., of antarctic fish [Dissostichus mawsoni, Trematomus hansoni, T. loennbergii, Notothenia gibberifrons, N. coriiceps, N. larseni, N. rossi, Gymnodraco acuticeps and Chaenocephalus aceratus] representing the families Nototheniidae, Channichthyidae and Bathydraconidae. Amino acid analysis indicates that the glycopeptides have amino acid compositions identical to previously studied antarctic nototheniids. The sizes of the glycopeptides show some heterogeneity although they all span the MW range of .apprx. 34,000-2500 daltons. The species studied are a representative of most of the ecological habitats of the Antarctic Ocean.