U.S.-Australia Dissertation Enhancement: Cytonuclear Interactions in a Hybrid Parthenogenetic Gecko (Heteronotia binoei)

该奖项支持加州大学伯克利分校脊椎动物博物馆的Craig Moritz博士和他的学生Matthew Fujita博士与澳大利亚墨尔本大学动物系的Michael Kearney博士之间的博士学位论文增强项目。无性繁殖的孤雌生殖生物通常是线粒体和核基因组不匹配的杂交种。这种永久的细胞核错配可能会产生重要的表型后果，这可能会改变我们对性别悖论的看法。与有性生殖形式相比，孤雌生殖壁虎的生理性能和发育稳定性发生了变化，这些表型特征可能与有氧呼吸电子传递链中的胞核相互作用有关。研究人员将调查孤雌生殖异源线虫中共同进化的胞核复合体中中断的上位性相互作用，这可能是由于它们的杂交起源和/或随后的遗传变化造成的。细胞色素c氧化酶活性的差异将被用来研究不同核背景下两个不同线粒体谱系之间的相互作用。这些数据将有助于整合基因组学、生化分析和生理数据的国际合作，以了解异源异源多倍体生物的杂交孤雌生殖的起源、进化和表型后果，并对识别异源多倍体生物的基因组过程以及理解和解决性别悖论具有更广泛的意义。加州大学和墨尔本大学之间的利益有足够的重叠，这表明他们可以成功地开展拟议的活动，这种互动将使双方受益。这项研究的结果与异源多倍体生物的基因组进化、多样性、物种形成(基因组不亲和性)、表型变异(生理学)、性别的进化和维持以及基因组过程的鉴定有关。这项研究将为美国研究生提供一个获得全球研究经验的绝佳机会。预计在他的职业生涯中，他将与澳大利亚的研究人员和学生保持联系和合作

0824991MoritzTitle: U.S.-Australia Dissertation Enhancement: Cytonuclear Interactions in a Hybrid Parthenogenetic Gecko (Heteronotia binoei)This award supports a doctoral dissertation enhancement project between Dr. Craig Moritz and his student Matthew Fujita in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley and Dr. Michael Kearney in the Zoology Department at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Parthenogenetic organisms, which reproduce clonally without sex, are often hybrids with mismatched mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. This perpetual cytonuclear mismatch can have important phenotypic consequences which may alter our view of the paradox of sex. Compared to sexual forms, parthenogenetic geckos of the Heteronotia binoei complex exhibit altered physiological performance and developmental stability, phenotypic traits potentially associated with cytonuclear interactions in the electron transport chain of aerobic respiration. The researchers will investigate disrupted epistatic interactions in the coevolved cytonuclear complexes in parthenogenetic Heteronotia that may have resulted from their hybrid origin and/or subsequent genetic changes. Variation in cytochrome c oxidase activity among four clonal lineages of Heteronotia will be used to examine the interactions of two distinct mitochondrial lineages in different nuclear backgrounds. The data will contribute to an international collaboration integrating genomics, biochemical assays, and physiological data to understand the origin, evolution and phenotypic consequences of hybrid parthenogenesis in Heteronotia binoei, with broader implications on identifying genomic processes in allopolyploid organisms and understanding and resolving the paradox of sex. There is sufficient overlap of interests between the University of California and the University of Melbourne to indicate that they can successfully pursue the activities proposed and that the interaction will benefit both sides. Results from this research are relevant to genome evolution, diversification, speciation (genomic incompatibilities), phenotypic variation (physiology), the evolution and maintenance of sex and the identification of genomic processes in allopolyploid organisms. This research will provide the US graduate student an excellent opportunity to receive a global research experience. It is anticipated that he will maintain contacts and collaborations with the Australian researchers and students throughout his career