Sterol Biosynthesis in the Marine Dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis

海洋甲藻、短卡伦藻中甾醇的生物合成

• 批准号: 0816787
• 负责人: Jeffrey Leblond
• 金额: $ 15.62万
• 依托单位: Middle Tennessee State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0816787&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Sterol; Biosynthesis; Marine; Dinoflagellate; Karenia

The project will examine sterol biosynthesis in Karenia brevis, a unicellular, eukaryotic alga of great environmental and economic importance that forms yearly harmful blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. The biosynthesis of sterols, ringed lipids thought to contribute to membrane integrity, has been elucidated in great detail in yeast and some plants, but not in dinoflagellates. Preliminary data suggest a more plant-like pathway for K. brevis rather than the yeast-like pathway that has been hypothesized to date in other dinoflagellates. The objective of this project is therefore to elucidate important biochemical steps in the biosynthesis of brevesterol and gymnodinosterol, the primary sterols of K. brevis, by determining structures of selected intermediates that accumulate during exposure to particular fungicides. This project will be the first to elucidate specific biosynthetic steps in the production of K. brevis sterols. This is of particular importance because, despite the significant historical attention given to dinoflagellate sterols as environmental biomarkers for this class of algae, few have turned their attention to how these molecules are produced. Undergraduate students will actively participate in the laboratory studies at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The chance for undergraduate students to participate in such a project will both train the students and hopefully excite them, thereby helping to propel them into strong Ph.D. programs at other institutions. This training and motivation of students in areas of basic scientific research is an important component of the activities. The forecasted shortfalls in young scientists in the United States is of concern to all, and including students in basic research at earlier points in their careers has been recommended as a means of encouraging more students to pursue careers in science. The goal is therefore to produce valuable information on a very economically and environmentally important marine alga, while at the same time enticing students into this exciting area of biochemistry.

该项目将研究Karenia brevis的甾醇生物合成，Karenia brevis是一种单细胞真核生物，具有重要的环境和经济意义，每年在墨西哥湾形成有害的水华。 甾醇的生物合成，环状脂质被认为有助于膜的完整性，已经阐明了在酵母和一些植物，但不是在甲藻非常详细。 初步数据表明K. brevis而不是酵母样途径，已假设在其他甲藻日期。 因此，本项目的目的是阐明在短甾醇和裸甲藻甾醇的生物合成的重要生化步骤，主要甾醇的K。brevis，通过确定在暴露于特定杀真菌剂期间积累的选定中间体的结构。 该项目将是第一个阐明生产K的特定生物合成步骤的项目。短甾醇。 这是特别重要的，因为，尽管历史上给予甲藻甾醇作为这类藻类的环境生物标志物的显着关注，很少有人把注意力转向这些分子是如何产生的。 本科生将积极参与中田纳西州立大学（MTSU）的实验室研究。 本科生参与这样一个项目的机会将既训练学生，也希望激发他们，从而有助于推动他们成为强大的博士。其他机构的项目。 这种培养和激励学生从事基础科研的活动是一个重要组成部分。 美国青年科学家的预测短缺是所有人都关注的问题，建议让学生在职业生涯的早期从事基础研究，以鼓励更多的学生从事科学职业。 因此，我们的目标是产生一个非常经济和环境重要的海洋生物的有价值的信息，而在同一时间吸引学生进入这个令人兴奋的生物化学领域。