U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research: Physiological Ecology of Acid Brine Shrimp

该奖项将使俄勒冈州的弗兰克·P·孔蒂教授 与Michael C博士合作。格迪斯在 澳大利亚阿德莱德大学。 这些调查人员将 进行生理生化比较， 生活在碱性和酸性环境中的耐盐盐水虾 澳大利亚西部的盐湖 酶补充 负责跨膜运输的离子在两个 环境类型的生物体将被分离，纯化， 以确定是否存在 钠泵的基因改造 的有效性 二氧化碳依赖的生产途径 将通过以下方式测试稳压器调节所需的辅助能量： 确定是否有来自酸性环境的盐水虾 都有一种对该途径至关重要的特殊酶 此外，本发明还 将进行生态研究，以确定食物 资源及摄食行为 碱性湖泊。 这项研究的目的是为了深入了解 在细胞离子运输中发生的分子进化 机制等 这种适应对人类的生存至关重要。 高盐环境中的生物 孔蒂医生是专家 关于耐盐生理学。 格迪斯医生 丰富的经验与盐湖和生理的 澳大利亚盐水虾，是最早发现 酸盐水虾的位置 存在相似 物种在对比鲜明的环境中， 为这种比较研究提供了极好的机会。

This award will enable Professor Frank P. Conte of Oregon State University to collaborate with Dr. Michael C. Geddes at the University of Adelaide, Australia. These investigators will make physiological and biochemical comparisons on the halotolerant brine shrimp that inhabit alkaline and acidic saline lakes in Western Australia. The enzyme complements responsible for cross-membrane transport of ions in the two environmental types of organisms will be isolated, purified and characterized in order to determine whether there has been genetic modification of the sodium pump. The validity of a proposed carbon dioxide-dependent pathway for the production of auxiliary energy needed in osmoregulation will be tested by determining whether or not brine shrimp from acidic environments have a particular enzyme critical to the pathway. Additionally, ecological studies will be conducted to determine the food resources and feeding behavior of the brine shrimp in the acid and alkaline lakes. The purpose of this research is to gain insight into the molecular evolution occurring in cellular ion transport mechanisms. Such adaptations are essential to the survival of organisms in hypersaline environments. Dr. Conte is an expert on the physiology of halotolerance. Dr. Geddes has had extensive experience with saline lakes and the physiology of the Australian brine shrimp, and was one of the original discoverers of the acid brine shrimp locations. The presence of similar species in contrasting environments within close proximity provides an excellent opportunity for this comparative study.