X-Message-Number: 4259 From: (Brian Wowk) Newsgroups: sci.cryonics Subject: Re: Cyroprotective Proteins Date: 18 Apr 1995 21:00:22 GMT Message-ID: <3n1996$> References: <3mf67l$> <> In <> (Anders Sandberg) writes: >How does cryoprotective proteins and carbohydrates work >in nature? One interesting solution would be to add genes >for the production of these substances to ourselves >(a bit non-trivial at present, but gene-therapy is starting >to get good), controlled by a regulator switch. When a >suspension is imminent, an artificial hormone activates them >and the body will be at least a bit less susceptible to >freezing damage. If these substances prove to be useful in cryopreservation, we hardly need anything as arcane as gene therapy to use them: Just add them to your cryoprotective perfusate (in combination with drugs to open the blood-brain barrier). I, however, am not convinced that natural anti-freeze compounds (evolved to protect at -10'C) are particularly useful for cryopreservation at -130'C. Rubinsky is a big fan of this approach to organ cryopreservation, and I have yet to see anything profound come out of his lab yet. This is in stark contrast to Greg Fahy's spectacular progress with vitrification. ---Brian Wowk Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4259