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

该奖项将使俄勒冈州立大学的Frank P. Conte教授能够与澳大利亚阿德莱德大学的Michael C. Geddes博士合作。这些研究人员将对生活在西澳大利亚州碱性和酸性盐湖中的耐盐盐水虾进行生理和生化比较。在两种环境类型的生物体中，负责离子跨膜运输的酶补体将被分离、纯化和表征，以确定是否存在对钠泵的基因改造。通过确定来自酸性环境的盐水虾是否具有一种对该途径至关重要的特定酶，将验证在渗透调节中产生辅助能量所需的二氧化碳依赖途径的有效性。此外，还将开展生态学研究，以确定酸性和碱性湖泊中卤虾的食物资源和摄食行为。本研究的目的是深入了解发生在细胞离子转运机制中的分子进化。这种适应对于生物在高盐环境中生存是必不可少的。孔蒂博士是耐盐生理方面的专家。Geddes博士在盐湖和澳大利亚盐水虾的生理学方面拥有丰富的经验，并且是酸性盐水虾位置的最初发现者之一。相似物种在相近环境中的存在为这一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.