Molecular Basis of Hydroid Allorecognition

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The long-range goal of this research is to identify, clone, and sequence genes encoding allorecognition determinants from the colonial hydroid, Hydractinia. Work to date has shown the feasibility of producing isogenic colonies which differ in their histocompatibility responses. During this grant period, the applicants propose to: 1) continue ongoing analysis of the transmission genetics of fusibility in this hydroid, 2) produce, in bulk, tissues from isogenic colonies which differ in their fusibility responses, and 3) generate cDNA libraries from these tissues. This effort will yield the materials necessary to pursue subtractive hybridization as a strategy for isolating the genes of interest. It is well known that vertebrate animals have well developed immune mechanisms for rejection of foreign tissues, but little is known about such mechanisms in invertebrates. The proposed research represents a collaborative effort between an invertebrate zoologist and a molecular immunologist. Their ultimate goal is to accomplish the first unambiguous characterization of the molecules involved in an invertebrate self-recognition (tissue-type) response. The results of this research ultimately should resolve the long- standing question of the phylogenetic relationships of invertebrate and vertebrate self-recognition and immune-like defense responses.