In this study, peptides designed using fragments of an antifreeze protein (AFP) from the freeze-tolerant insect Tenebrio molitor, TmAFP, were evaluated as inhibitors of clathrate hydrate formation. It was found that these peptides exhibit inhibitory effects by both direct and indirect mechanisms. The direct mechanism involves the displacement of methane molecules by hydrophobic methyl groups from threonine residues, preventing their diffusion to the hydrate surface. The indirect mechanism is characterized by the formation of cylindrical gas bubbles, the morphology of which reduces the pressure difference at the bubble interface, thereby slowing methane transport. The transfer of methane to the hydrate interface is primarily dominated by gas bubbles in the presence of antifreeze peptides. Spherical bubbles facilitate methane migration and potentially accelerate hydrate formation; conversely, the promotion of a cylindrical bubble morphology by two of the designed systems was found to mitigate this effect, leading to slower methane transport and reduced hydrate growth. These findings provide valuable guidance for the design of effective peptide-based inhibitors of natural-gas hydrate formation with potential applications in the energy and environmental sectors.
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7 August 2024
Research Article|
August 01 2024
Design of eco-friendly antifreeze peptides as novel inhibitors of gas-hydration kinetics
Special Collection:
Water: Molecular Origins of its Anomalies
Nan Zhang
;
Nan Zhang
(Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University
, Hohhot 010021, China
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Ying Zhu;
Ying Zhu
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Validation, Writing – original draft)
1
Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University
, Hohhot 010021, China
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Yan-Nan Li;
Yan-Nan Li
(Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing)
1
Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University
, Hohhot 010021, China
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Li-Rong Zhang
;
Li-Rong Zhang
(Funding acquisition, Project administration, Resources, Supervision)
1
Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University
, Hohhot 010021, China
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Feng-Shou Zhang
;
Feng-Shou Zhang
a)
(Funding acquisition, Resources, Supervision)
2
The Key Laboratory of Beam Technology and Material Modification of Ministry of Education, College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University
, Beijing 100875, China
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Jun-Jie Liu
Jun-Jie Liu
a)
(Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Resources, Supervision, Writing – review & editing)
1
Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University
, Hohhot 010021, China
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J. Chem. Phys. 161, 054701 (2024)
Article history
Received:
April 01 2024
Accepted:
July 18 2024
Citation
Nan Zhang, Ying Zhu, Yan-Nan Li, Li-Rong Zhang, Feng-Shou Zhang, Jun-Jie Liu; Design of eco-friendly antifreeze peptides as novel inhibitors of gas-hydration kinetics. J. Chem. Phys. 7 August 2024; 161 (5): 054701. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0211732
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