RUI: A proteomic analysis of stress responses in the ribbed salt marsh mussel, Geukensia demissa

该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助。盐沼贻贝是从佛罗里达州北部延伸到圣劳伦斯湾的盐沼群落的重要成员。在这个栖息地，Geukensia帮助稳定沉积物，过滤水中的颗粒物，并为许多种类的无脊椎动物提供栖息地。由于生活在潮间带，Geukensia必须应对极端环境，包括高温和低温、缺氧(无氧)、干燥和盐度波动。菲尔兹实验室的学生将确定Geukensia在这个具有挑战性的栖息地生存所采用的生化策略。这项研究将使用蛋白质组学(分析组织中蛋白质的类型和丰度的变化，包括鉴定其丰度显著变化的蛋白质)来研究Geukensia如何对环境压力做出反应。这项研究将解决以下问题：环境变量有多大的变化才能改变蛋白质的表达(应激反应)？是不是同一组蛋白质在不同的压力下表达？表达显著变化的蛋白质能被识别吗？这些问题的答案将让我们深入了解Geukensia是如何在如此多变的环境中生存的。更广泛地说，这项研究将揭示对各种压力的生化反应的相似性，以及对一种类型的压力的耐受性对其他类型的抗性的程度。这些问题的答案对生物体在包括气候变化在内的人类诱导的压力下生存的能力具有重要的影响。除了解决上述问题外，这项研究还将吸引本科生进行研究，让他们接触到包括二维凝胶电泳和质谱仪在内的生物化学技术。本科生还将有机会共同撰写同行评议的文章，并在全国会议上展示他们的成果。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The salt marsh mussel, Geukensia demissa, is an important member of the salt marsh community that stretches from northern Florida to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. In this habitat, Geukensia helps stabilize sediment, filters particulates from the water, and provides habitat for many species of invertebrates. Because it lives in the intertidal zone, Geukensia must cope with environmental extremes including high and low temperatures, anoxia (absence of oxygen), desiccation and fluctuations in salinity. Students in the Fields lab will determine the biochemical strategies Geukensia employs to survive in this challenging habitat. The research will employ proteomics (an analysis of changes in types and abundances of proteins in tissue, including identification of proteins whose abundances change significantly) to examine how Geukensia responds to environmental stresses. The research will address the following questions: How much change in an environmental variable is necessary to modify protein expression (a stress response)? Are the same groups of proteins expressed in response to different stresses? Can proteins whose expression changes significantly be identified? Answers to these questions will provide insight into how Geukensia is able to survive in such a variable environment. More generally, the research will reveal similarities in biochemical responses to a variety of stresses, and the extent to which tolerance to one type of stress provides resistance to others. Answers to these questions have important ramifications regarding the ability of organisms to survive in the face of human-induced stresses, including climate change. In addition to addressing the above questions, this research will engage undergraduates in research, exposing them to biochemistry techniques including 2-D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Undergraduates will also have the opportunity to co-author peer-reviewed articles and present their results at national meetings.