RIG: Genetic and Molecular Basis of Bacteriophage Life History Variation

RIG：噬菌体生命史变异的遗传和分子基础

• 批准号: 0918199
• 负责人: John Dennehy
• 金额: $ 17.42万
• 依托单位: CUNY Queens College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0918199&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RIG; Genetic; Molecular; Basis; Bacteriophage

To construct an organism, DNA is translated into proteins which are assembled into or direct the assembly of a physical structure. This process is almost unimaginably complex for most organisms, but what about the simplest of them, the bacterial viruses (i.e. phages)? For example, the coliphage lambda consists of a strand of DNA enclosed by a protein shell. How is the assembly of lambda phage controlled? How does stochasticity in the control mechanisms affect the ultimate product? How does evolution shape the control mechanisms? The ultimate goal of this research is to determine how phage assembly is controlled, to assess the role of variation in the assembly network, and to understand how evolution shapes this biological system. This project is an initial step towards that goal as it uses mutagenesis to systematically alter the expression of phage structural proteins. Organismal responses will be assessed by quantifying mean and variation of phage reproductive output. Evolution experiments will further determine how phages respond to changes in phage reproductive output. Successful completion will provide a clearer picture of how a complex process responds to system-wide perturbation, and how evolution is able to return the process to an optimal state. The broader impacts of the proposed research include encouraging persons of disability to participate in scientific research, increasing the participation of underrepresented minorities in science and enhancing research in evolutionary biology with next-generation scientific instrumentation and recently developed molecular techniques. The project will not only improve opportunities for the PI, a hearing impaired individual, but will increase the visibility of disabled scientists and encourage other disabled individuals to explore science as a career. As an underrepresented minority, the PI is keenly aware of the importance of fostering inclusiveness in the scientific community. The PI is active in efforts to increase scientific literacy including keeping a blog, giving science talks to the general public and participating in a web encyclopedia project.

为了构建生物体，DNA被翻译成蛋白质，蛋白质被组装成或指导物理结构的组装。对于大多数生物体来说，这一过程几乎是不可想象的复杂，但对于其中最简单的细菌病毒（即细菌）来说，情况又如何呢？例如，大肠杆菌噬菌体λ由一条被蛋白质外壳包围的DNA链组成。如何控制λ噬菌体的组装？控制机制中的随机性如何影响最终产品？进化如何塑造控制机制？这项研究的最终目标是确定噬菌体组装是如何控制的，评估变异在组装网络中的作用，并了解进化如何塑造这个生物系统。该项目是实现这一目标的第一步，因为它使用诱变来系统地改变噬菌体结构蛋白的表达。将通过量化噬菌体繁殖输出的平均值和变化来评估生物体应答。进化实验将进一步确定噬菌体如何响应噬菌体繁殖输出的变化。 成功完成将提供一个更清晰的画面，一个复杂的过程如何响应系统范围的扰动，以及进化如何能够返回到一个最佳状态的过程。 拟议研究的更广泛影响包括鼓励残疾人参与科学研究，增加代表性不足的少数群体对科学的参与，以及利用下一代科学仪器和最近开发的分子技术加强进化生物学研究。该项目不仅将改善听力受损者PI的机会，还将提高残疾科学家的知名度，并鼓励其他残疾人将科学作为一种职业来探索。 作为一个代表性不足的少数群体，PI敏锐地意识到在科学界促进包容性的重要性。PI积极努力提高科学素养，包括开设博客，向公众进行科学讲座，并参与网络百科全书项目。