DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Effects of Mating System on Accessory Gland Protein Evolution in Heliconius Butterflies

论文研究：交配系统对蝴蝶副腺蛋白进化的影响

• 批准号: 0607998
• 负责人: Richard Harrison
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Cornell Univ - State: AWDS MADE PRIOR MAY 2010
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-01 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0607998&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Effects; Mating; System

Proteins that are directly involved in fertilization in sexually reproducing animals are often unusually divergent when compared between closely related species. The reasons for rapid divergence, which has been observed in organisms ranging from mollusks to mammals, are currently not well understood. This project critically examines the hypothesis that rapid genetic change is a consequence of competition among males for opportunities to fertilize females. The proposed research focuses on Heliconius butterflies (a group of insects with a long history in genetic research) and has two major goals: 1) to identify genes encoding proteins involved in fertilization and egg laying and 2) to compare patterns of divergence in these genes between species with different mating systems, i.e., different levels of competition among males. If mating system influences rates of molecular change, levels of genetic divergence among reproductive proteins should correlate with mating system. Understanding the nature and causes of changes in proteins that mediate interactions between sperm and egg will provide important insights into the origin of diversity (how new species arise). In addition, examining unusual patterns of genetic divergence between species will also offer important insights into biological function, with implications for medicine, agriculture, and the environment. Ultimately, determining the cause of the unusual divergence found among reproductive proteins will help to inform efforts to control insect pests and treat infertility.

在有性繁殖的动物中，直接参与受精的蛋白质在近缘物种之间的比较中通常是不寻常的分歧。在从软体动物到哺乳动物的生物体中观察到的快速分化的原因目前还不清楚。这个项目批判性地检验了这样一个假设，即快速的遗传变化是雄性之间竞争使雌性受精的机会的结果。拟议的研究重点是Heliconius蝴蝶（一组在遗传研究方面具有悠久历史的昆虫），并有两个主要目标：1）确定编码参与受精和产卵的蛋白质的基因，2）比较具有不同交配系统的物种之间这些基因的分歧模式，即，不同程度的竞争。如果交配系统影响分子变化的速率，那么生殖蛋白之间的遗传差异水平应该与交配系统相关。了解介导精子和卵子之间相互作用的蛋白质变化的性质和原因将为了解多样性的起源（新物种如何出现）提供重要见解。此外，研究物种间遗传差异的不寻常模式也将为生物功能提供重要的见解，对医学，农业和环境具有重要意义。最终，确定生殖蛋白中发现的不寻常分歧的原因将有助于为控制害虫和治疗不育症的努力提供信息。