A crustacean-derived protein, as measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate
(SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, displays a non-reduced band of
a molecular weight of about 200,000, displays reduced-form bands at about
86,000 and 90,000 molecular weights, and has N-terminal amino acids as
indicated by SEQ ID No. 1 or SEQ ID No. 2.
This protein is contained in large amounts in the crustacean shells that
are largely discarded except for use for meal, chitin, and chitosan raw
material. Thus large volume preparation, as well as inexpensive
production, is possible. Moreover, application by addition to foods is
easy since this is a food-derived protein. Since the protein of the
present invention has ice nucleation activity and recrystallization
inhibition activity for ice crystals, wide use is possible with the
object of quality maintenance and the like of frozen food and the like.