En-Gen: Gene expression and harmful algal bloom dynamics.

En-Gen：基因表达和有害藻华动态。

• 批准号: 0723498
• 负责人: Jeremiah Hackett
• 金额: $ 99.54万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0723498&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: En; Gen; Gene; expression; harmful

The overall goal of this project is to identify the key cellular processes involved in harmful algal blooms (HABs), commonly known as red tides. HABs pose a major threat to human health, ecosystem health, and fisheries resources throughout the world. One of the most important model systems for studying this process is the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense, a unicellular alga that produces neurotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, and is the most widespread of all HAB poisoning syndromes. With the recent development of genomic resources for A. tamarense, it is now possible to conduct studies on the environmental regulation of gene expression in this important species, and to begin to unravel the mysteries of bloom dynamics and cellular metabolism at a level that has never before been possible. This project will identify transcriptionally regulated genes and pathways during the three general stages of a bloom: initiation, development, and termination. Specifically, the investigators will create a microarray for A. tamarense to: 1. identify the key genes involved in the initiation of A. tamarense blooms, specifically those regulated during the germination of resting cyst life stages; 2. identify the key genes involved in the development and maintenance of A. tamarense blooms, specifically those involved in the assimilation of organic and inorganic nutrients, the process of photosynthesis, the production of toxins, and cell division cycle; 3. identify the key genes involved in the termination of A. tamarense blooms, specifically those regulated in response to nutrient limitation, and during the transition from vegetative growth to the sexual cycle that results in resting stage formation;and 4. investigate the physiological state of dinoflagellate cells in situ, by comparing expression profiles of a natural bloom population with the data generated from laboratory cultures. This study is an integrated, collaborative program that relies on expertise in A. tamarense molecular evolution, genomics, physiology, ecology, and toxicity. The investigators hope to produce a valuable molecular resource for scientists working to understand the ecology and toxicity of A. tamarense and other HAB species as well as help train the next generation of scientists working on this important problem. Additionally, the results of these studies will provide insights into the unique genome of these fascinating, evolutionarily and economically important, yet understudied organisms.

该项目的总体目标是确定有害藻华（HABs）（通常称为赤潮）所涉及的关键细胞过程。 有害藻华对全世界的人类健康、生态系统健康和渔业资源构成重大威胁。 研究这一过程的最重要的模型系统之一是有毒甲藻塔玛亚历山大藻，一种单细胞藻类，产生神经毒素，导致麻痹性贝类中毒，是所有赤潮中毒综合征中最普遍的。 随着近年来A. tamarense，现在有可能对这一重要物种的基因表达的环境调节进行研究，并开始以前所未有的水平揭开水华动力学和细胞代谢的奥秘。 这个项目将确定转录调控基因和途径在三个一般阶段的开花：启动，发展和终止。 具体来说，研究人员将创建一个A。tamarense to：1.确定参与A. tamarense开花，特别是那些在休眠孢囊生命阶段的萌发过程中受到调节的开花; 2.确定与A. tamarense开花，特别是那些参与有机和无机营养物质的同化，光合作用过程，毒素的产生和细胞分裂周期; 3.确定参与终止A. tamarense开花，特别是那些响应于营养限制而调节的开花，以及在从营养生长到导致休眠期形成的性周期的过渡期间;以及4.通过比较自然水华种群的表达谱与实验室培养产生的数据，原位研究甲藻细胞的生理状态。 这项研究是一个综合的，合作的计划，依赖于专业知识，在A。tamarense分子进化，基因组学，生理学，生态学和毒性。 研究人员希望为科学家们提供一个有价值的分子资源，以了解A. tamarense和其他有害藻华物种，以及帮助培训下一代科学家在这一重要问题上的工作。 此外，这些研究的结果将提供对这些迷人的，在进化和经济上重要的，但研究不足的生物体的独特基因组的见解。