U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research on Thermal Adaptation and Trophodynamics of Earth's Hottest Animal, the Pompei Worm 'Alvinella pompejana'

美国-澳大利亚关于地球最热动物庞贝蠕虫“Alvinella pompejana”的热适应和营养动力学的合作研究

• 批准号: 0239877
• 负责人: Charles Phleger
• 金额: $ 2万
• 依托单位: San Diego State University Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-08-15 至 2004-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0239877&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: U.S.; Australia; Cooperative; Research; Thermal

0239877PhlegerThis project involves international collaborative research on the mechanisms of thermal tolerance of deep-sea hydrothermal vent organisms. Professor Charles Phleger and graduate student Amy Groce of San Diego State University will travel to Australia to work with Dr. Peter Nichols and John Gordon of the CSIRO Division of Marine Research in Hobart, Tasmania. The project will also involve Matthew Nelson, a US graduate student studying at the University of Tasmania. They will work to determine the cell membrane characteristics that allow animals to survive in the high temperatures found near hydrothermal vents. This will involve profiling the signature lipids of selected species collected in 2001 using the deep-sea submersible Alvin. The CSIRO laboratory of Dr. Nichols is particularly well equipped for lipid analysis. Their study organisms include the pompei worm "Alvinella pompejana", which is the animal believed to be able to withstand the highest temperatures of any animal on earth. Their particular interest in lipids is based on the fact that a number of vent organisms consume large amounts of Archaea, a microorganism that makes up a significant portion of the biomass near vents. Archaea contain heat-tolerant cell membranes comprised of ether-linked lipids. This confers on these organisms an extraordinary capability to live in extreme environments.The broader significance of this research lies in understanding the biochemical and physiological mechanisms of adaptation which allow this worm and others to be studied to not just survive but grow luxuriantly at environmental temperatures approaching the boiling point of water. If it turns out that their membranes are composed of ether lipids obtained by eating Archaea, this brings new complexity and implications to how the food chain in extreme environments is constructed. In any case, the knowledge gained may have applications in some industrial settings where fermentation is required at high temperatures and pressures. A second area of significance is that it will provide the opportunity for a US graduate student to gain international experience in a highly regarded and well equipped marine laboratory in Australia.

0239877 Phleger该项目涉及深海热液喷口生物耐热机制的国际合作研究。 圣地亚哥州立大学的Charles Phleger教授和研究生Amy Groce将前往澳大利亚，与塔斯马尼亚州霍巴特的CSIRO海洋研究部的Peter Nichols博士和John Gordon一起工作。 该项目还将涉及马修纳尔逊，美国研究生在塔斯马尼亚大学学习。他们将致力于确定使动物能够在热液喷口附近发现的高温下生存的细胞膜特征。这将涉及对2001年使用深海潜水器Alvin号收集的选定物种的特征脂质进行剖析。Nichols博士的CSIRO实验室特别适合脂质分析。 他们的研究生物包括庞贝虫“Alvinella pompejana”，这是一种被认为能够承受地球上任何动物的最高温度的动物。他们对脂类特别感兴趣，是因为许多喷口生物消耗大量的微生物，这种微生物在喷口附近的生物量中占很大比例。 海藻含有由醚连接的脂质组成的耐热细胞膜。 这赋予了这些生物在极端环境中生存的非凡能力。这项研究的更广泛意义在于了解适应的生化和生理机制，这些机制使这种蠕虫和其他蠕虫不仅能够在接近水沸点的环境温度下生存，而且能够繁茂地生长。 如果事实证明，它们的膜是由通过食用食腐菌获得的醚脂组成的，这就为极端环境下的食物链是如何构建的带来了新的复杂性和启示。 在任何情况下，所获得的知识都可能在某些需要在高温高压下发酵的工业环境中得到应用。 第二个重要领域是，它将为美国研究生提供机会，在澳大利亚一个备受推崇和装备精良的海洋实验室获得国际经验。