Quantification of the Ice Nucleation Activity of Ice-Binding Proteins Using a Microliter Droplet Freezing Experiment.

Many ice-binding proteins can stimulate nucleation of ice from supercooled liquid water. Quantification of ice nucleation usually involves cooling a population of droplets and observing their freezing temperatures. Here, a method for measuring the freezing temperatures of microliter-scale droplets is described and its application to quantifying a substances' ice nucleation activity discussed.