Screening Microbes for Ice-Associating Proteins with Potential Application as ‘Green Inhibitors’ for Gas Hydrates

The survival of microbes at low temperatures is important for our understanding of overwintering and the mechanisms of stress adaptation. However, such organisms also deserve attention for the potential they hold as sources of products to address practical problems and for providing environmentally responsible options. One such threat to the ecosystem is the danger posed by the unexpected and catastrophic formation of gas hydrates in pipelines during drilling operations, transport and throughout fractionation. The most popular chemical gas hydrate inhibitors are themselves toxic, making the discovery of new ‘green’ hydrate inhibitors a high priority. Recently, we have shown that antifreeze proteins, which inhibit ice growth, can also inhibit gas hydrate formation. Although current sources of these proteins are not sufficient for these applications, we believe that microbial products can be a part of the solution to this challenge that poses a special threat to both marine and northern ecosystems. Here, we outline strategies and methods for the isolation of microbes with these properties.