Collaborative Research: Chemical Communication and the Language of Gametes

合作研究：化学通讯和配子语言

• 批准号: 0821130
• 负责人: Michael Goodisman
• 金额: $ 9.53万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-08-01 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0821130&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Chemical; Communication; Language

Despite a century of intensive research, fertilization is one of the least understood fundamental biological processes. Current theory predicts that membrane-bound proteins promote gamete recognition, but soluble-egg compounds attracting conspecific sperm could also act as pre-zygotic factors maintaining species integrity while increasing fertilization rates. Whereas cell contact recognition between male and female gametes is critical for sexual reproduction, the role of soluble egg factors remains undetermined. Using abalone (genus Haliotis), this project combines a formative conceptual framework with unprecedented techniques and infrastructure to establish the chemical 'language' of sperm and egg. It is expected to provide the first concrete evidence that barriers to hybridization can function prior to gamete contact, and that remote chemical signals can promote speciation. This study has implications for reproductive biology in humans as well as wildlife conservation. Future research could advance innovative approaches for solving problems in human contraception and infertility, using abalone as a valuable animal model: working with German colleagues, the investigators have identified and cloned genes coding for chemoreceptors on human sperm membranes. Recent discoveries link receptor function with sperm attraction to egg. Compelling challenges in conservation biology also will benefit from new knowledge of sensory stimuli controlling fertilization. For many threatened or endangered species, from abalone and corals to apes and elephants, fertilization is the bottleneck to species proliferation. Basic research on sperm chemoattraction is likely to yield original solutions to age old problems in reproductive biology. In captive breeding programs, for example, soluble sperm attractants could be used to identify the most promising sperm donors. Assuming gamete compatibility between mates, a donor with fast and chemo-responsive sperm may enhance the probability of fertilization while potentially improving offspring quality. The investigators have a strong tradition of active community outreach and undergraduate and graduate education. In particular, this project will invigorate training of women and underrepresented students in interdisciplinary research, towards careers in physiology, genetics, and environmental sciences.

尽管经过了世纪的深入研究，受精仍然是人们最不了解的基本生物过程之一。 目前的理论预测，膜结合蛋白质促进配子识别，但可溶性卵化合物吸引同种精子也可以作为前合子的因素，保持物种的完整性，同时提高受精率。 而雄性和雌性配子之间的细胞接触识别是有性生殖的关键，可溶性卵因子的作用仍然没有确定。 使用鲍鱼（属Haliotis），该项目结合了前所未有的技术和基础设施的形成概念框架，以建立精子和卵子的化学语言。 它有望提供第一个具体的证据表明，杂交障碍可以在配子接触之前发挥作用，并且远程化学信号可以促进物种形成。 这项研究对人类生殖生物学和野生动物保护都有意义。未来的研究可以推进解决人类避孕和不育问题的创新方法，使用鲍鱼作为有价值的动物模型：与德国同事合作，研究人员已经确定并克隆了编码人类精子膜上化学感受器的基因。 最近的发现将受体功能与精子对卵子的吸引力联系起来。 保护生物学中令人信服的挑战也将受益于感官刺激控制受精的新知识。 对于许多受威胁或濒临灭绝的物种，从鲍鱼和珊瑚到猿和大象，受精是物种繁殖的瓶颈。 对精子化学吸引力的基础研究可能会为生殖生物学中的古老问题提供原始的解决方案。 例如，在圈养繁殖计划中，可溶性精子引诱剂可以用来识别最有希望的精子供体。 假设配偶之间的配子相容性，具有快速和化学反应精子的供体可能会提高受精的概率，同时可能提高后代质量。 调查人员有一个积极的社区外展和本科和研究生教育的强大传统。 特别是，该项目将激励对妇女和代表性不足的学生进行跨学科研究的培训，以走向生理学，遗传学和环境科学的职业生涯。