Evidence that translational control mechanisms operate to optimize antifreeze protein production in the winter flounder.

In fall and winter, the liver of the winter flounder produces large amounts of alanine-rich (60 mol %) antifreeze proteins for export to the circulation. We have examined the tRNA in the liver to see if the seasonal production of antifreeze protein is accompanied by changes in tRNAAla isoacceptors. Total tRNA from the liver of winter fish showed an approximate 40% increase in alanine acceptor capacity over tRNA from summer fish. In contrast, …