Collaborative Research: The Chemical Basis of Ethological Isolation

9615473阿诺德了解物种形成过程背后的遗传机制是进化生物学长期追求的目标。例如，长期以来，人们一直认为，基因突变导致生殖过程中用于交流的化学物质(信息素)略有不同，可能会促进种群的隔离，最终导致新物种的出现。这项研究项目使用了一组经过充分研究的两栖动物来解决这个问题。陆栖“无肺”火蜥蜴进化出了一种生化交流系统，在这种系统中，求偶的雄性会在求爱过程中向雌性释放信息素，从而增加雌性的接受度。信息素是由雄性下巴上的一个腺体产生的，这个腺体的提取物含有蛋白质，这些蛋白质已经部分纯化和表征，并用于行为实验。这些蛋白质包含多种异构体，其数量和类型因物种和单一物种内的不同种群而异。目前尚不清楚任何单一亚型的流行是否提供生殖优势或促进进化种群之间的隔离。在这项研究中，这些蛋白质的生化特征及其在促进火蜥蜴种群间行为隔离方面的作用将被研究。这项研究是两个机构的科学家合作的，有两个方向：1)腺体提取物主要蛋白质成分的生化表征(相对浓度、分子质量、氨基酸组成和N-末端序列)；2)行为生物测定，以确定不同亚型在诱导不同种群雌性火蜥蜴感受性方面的生物活性，和/或促进隔离。综上所述，这些研究将使人们能够深入了解物种形成过程的生化基础。

9615473 Arnold Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying the process of speciation is a long-sought goal in evolutionary biology. For example, it has long been thought that genetic mutations resulting in slight differences in chemicals used in communication during the reproductive process (pheromones) might promote isolation of populations, and ultimately the emergence of new species. This research project addresses this question using a well-studied group of amphibians. Terrestrial "lungless" salamanders have evolved a biochemical communication system in which courting males administer a pheromone to females during courtship which increases female receptivity. The pheromone is produced by a gland on the male's chin, and extracts from this gland contain proteins, which have been partially purified and characterized, and used in behavioral experiments. These proteins contain multiple isoforms, the amounts and types of which vary between species and among populations within a single species. Whether the prevalence of any single isoform offers reproductive advantages or promotes isolation between evolving populations is unknown. In the present study, the biochemical characteristics of these proteins and their role in promoting behavioral isolation among salamander populations will be investigated. The research is a collaboration between scientists at two institutions and has two directions: 1) biochemical characterization of the major protein components of gland extracts (relative concentrations, molecular mass, amino acid composition, and N-terminal sequence); and 2) behavioral bioassays to determine the biological activity of the various isoforms in eliciting receptivity in female salamanders from different populations, and/or fostering isolation. Taken together, these studies will allow insights into the biochemical basis of the process of speciation.