Tissue distribution of fish antifreeze protein mRNAs

The presence of fish antifreeze protein (AFP) mRNA was examined in a variety of tissues from the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus), and ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus), each of which contains one of the three known AFP types. Northern blot analysis indicates that whereas the AFP mRNA is restricted to liver in sea raven (type II AFP), significant amounts of mRNA are present in many other tissues in both winter flounder (type I) and ocean pout (type III). These results indicate that in sea raven, antifreeze protein synthesis only occurs in the liver, whereas in the ocean pout and winter flounder, synthesis occurs in many tissues throughout the body. These investigations are relevant to understanding the mode of action of these polypeptides.