RUI: Collaborative Research: Production of Toxins by Bloom-Forming Macroalgae.

绿色海藻的过度生长（通常被称为藻类或海藻水华或“绿色潮”）会导致许多环境问题，其中一些被认为是海藻产生的毒素的结果。 这些毒素可以显着影响其他植物和动物;然而，对它们的生产知之甚少。已经确定的毒素包括多巴胺和二甲基磺基丙酸酯（DMSP）的两种分解产物：丙烯酸和二甲基硫醚（DMS）。 在这项研究中，将解决以下问题：1）是什么触发多巴胺和DMSP的生产？这些毒素的数量是恒定的，还是随着环境的变化而变化？不同的季节或不同的地方生产不同吗？2)这些毒素是在哪里以及如何产生和储存在细胞中的？3)为什么多巴胺有毒？当它降解时会产生额外的损害吗？4）如果发现新的毒素，是什么触发了它们的产生，它们是如何起作用的？更好地了解海藻毒素是如何产生和工作的，将有助于确定海藻水华是否、何时、何地会影响海洋群落或损害经济和生态上重要的物种。 由于这些海藻在世界各地都有发现，这项研究的结果将适用于太平洋西北部以外的地区。浮游植物产生的DMSP在全球硫循环中具有重要作用。 更多地了解海藻中的DMSP应该会导致更好地了解浮游植物中的DMSP，从而更好地了解DMSP在全球硫循环中的作用。研究生和本科生培训将是这项工作的重要组成部分。至少有三名本科生和两名研究生将从事这项研究，并将学习电子和荧光显微镜以及化学分离和鉴定技术。

Excessive growths of green seaweeds (often referred to as algal or seaweed blooms or "green tides") can cause many environmental problems, some of which are thought to be a result of toxins produced by the seaweeds. These toxins can dramatically affect other plants and animals; however, little is known about their production. Toxins that have already been identified include dopamine, and two breakdown products of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP): acrylic acid and dimethyl sulfide (DMS). In this study, the following questions will be addressed: 1) What triggers the production of dopamine and DMSP? Are the amounts of these toxins constant or do they change in response to changes in the environment? Is production different in different seasons or in different places?; 2) Where and how are these toxins produced and stored in the cells?, 3) Why is dopamine toxic? Does it produce additional damage when it degrades?; and 4) If new toxins are identified, what triggers their production and how do they work? A better understanding of how seaweed toxins are produced and work will help determine if, when, and where seaweed blooms will affect marine communities or harm economically and ecologically important species. Because these seaweeds are found around the world, the results of this study will apply beyond the Pacific Northwest. DMSP produced by phytoplankton is important in global sulfur cycles. Knowing more about DMSP in seaweeds should result in a better understanding of DMSP in phytoplankton and, therefore, the role of DMSP in the global sulfur cycle. Graduate and undergraduate training will be an important part of this work. At least three undergraduates and two graduate students will work on the study and will learn electron and fluorescence microscopy and chemical separation and identification techniques.