Honors Theses and Capstones

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLSA

Department

Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Program or Major

Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

Krisztina Varga

Abstract

Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is an important preservation method for protein-based products, such as protein pharmaceuticals. However, the process introduces both freezing and drying stresses that can harm proteins. Here, we have studied the efficacy of AnAFP, a dehydrin-like antifreeze protein isolated from the broadleaf desert shrub Ammopiptanthus nanus, in reducing enzyme damage during freeze-drying, or lyophilization. We have shown that AnAFP can protect the model enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from both freezing and dehydration damages during lyophilization with similar or better efficacy than 10% w/v sucrose and superior to that of another known antifreeze protein.

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