Collaborative Research: Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology of the Stress Response and Stress Proteins

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Dybas 9727681 A major issue in ecological and evolutionary physiology is the relationship among the traits of complex organisms, organisms' ability to exploit diverse environments, and species' persistence in time. The proposed investigation examines the heat-shock protein Hsp70 in Drosophila to address this issue. In response to heat or other stresses, nearly all organisms express heat-shock proteins (Hsps), highly-conserved proteins that contribute to stress tolerance by functioning as molecular chaperones. Research supported by a previous NSF award has established that experimental manipulation of copy number of the hsp70 gene of Drosophila, which encodes Hsp70, is sufficient to cause changes in thermotolerance. The proposed research will build upon this finding to examine the physiological mechanism of Hsp70 function; i.e., how thermal stress disrupts function and how Hsp70 protects against heat damage or aids recovery from it. This issue will be examined in the larval gut of Drosophila, which is especially susceptible to heat damage. Electron microscopy will be used to determine which particular tissues and cells are most vulnerable to heat damage, and to document protection of these tissues and cells by the heat-shock protein Hsp70. Larval Drosophila that differ in Hsp70 expression will be examined. The projected outcome of the proposed research has immense potential to integrate molecular, genetic, functional, and evolutionary perspectives to advance understanding of adaptation.