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. 1985 Sep;79(1):41–56. doi: 10.1104/pp.79.1.41

A Novel Method of Natural Cryoprotection 1

Intracellular Glass Formation in Deeply Frozen Populus

Allen G Hirsh 1, Robert J Williams 1, Harold T Meryman 1
PMCID: PMC1074826  PMID: 16664400

Abstract

Correlating measurements from differential scanning calorimetry, freeze-fracture freeze-etch electron microscopy, and survival of twigs after two-step cooling experiments, we provide strong evidence that winter-hardened Populus balsamifera v. virginiana (Sarg.) resists the stresses of freezing below −28°C by amorphous solidification (glass formation) of most of its intracellular contents during slow cooling (≤5°C per hour). It is shown that other components of the intracellular medium go through glass transitions during slow cooling at about −45°C and below −70°C. This `three glass' model was then used to predict the results of differential scanning calorimetry, freeze-fracture freeze-etch electron microscopy, and biological experiments. This model is the first definitive explanation for the resistance of a woody plant to liquid N2 temperatures even if quench cooling (1200°C per minute) begins at temperatures as high as −20°C and warming is very slow (≤5°C per hour). It is also the first time high temperature natural intracellular glass formation has been demonstrated.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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