RUI: Mechanisms of acclimation in the Eastern red spotted newt

RUI：东部红斑蝾螈的适应机制

• 批准号: 1120448
• 负责人: Nancy Berner
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of the South
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-15 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1120448&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Mechanisms; acclimation; Eastern; red

Acclimatization is a process by which individual organisms vary their characteristics in response to some aspect or aspects of their environment. Acclimatization is reversible, which distinguishes it from adaptation, generally defined as an evolutionary response to long-term environmental alteration. Acclimatization is an important mechanism by which organisms respond to fluctuations in their surroundings. Modifications in characteristics brought on by natural seasonal temperature differences are of particular interest, and are generally studied in animals acclimated to specific temperatures in the laboratory that mimic temperatures found in their natural environment. Thus, both acclimatization to natural seasonal temperatures and acclimation to various temperatures in the laboratory have been well described across numerous taxa, vertebrate and invertebrate as well as in plants. Despite the widespread nature of seasonal thermal acclimatization and acclimation, mechanisms controlling and coordinating these processes remain elusive.This research uses laboratory acclimation experiments on an amphibian model to clarify cellular, molecular and environmental mechanisms responsible for controlling and coordinating thermal acclimation in a single species, the Eastern red spotted newt. It will provide one of the most complete investigations of acclimation in a single cold-blooded vertebrate species, and will lead to insights about mechanisms of acclimatization in their natural environment. The PI, along with undergraduate co-workers, will investigate the expression of genes that are related to temperature regulation and acclimation processes. The investigators will determine the role of particular cellular membrane components in the acclimation process by artificially changing membrane composition through dietary manipulations. The use of mass spectrometry will allow them to identify specific membrane components critical to the activity of metabolic enzymes. Laboratory acclimation experiments controlling day length and temperature will determine the environmental cue most important to the acclimation process. Knowing how environments impact individual characteristics will lead to a better appreciation of how our currently changing global temperatures might impact species distribution and survival. Such information will be critical in determining best conservation practices in the face our changing global environment.This project will have considerable impact beyond the broad scientific impact of the research itself. As a biology professor at a liberal arts institution, the PI consistently publishes with undergraduate co-authors in leading scientific journals. Funding will provide summer stipends for ten to twelve undergraduate students and travel funds for these students to attend national meetings to present their research. In addition, the PI will coordinate with the University's high school minority program "the Bridge Program in Math and Science" to increase the involvement of minority students in research. One or two of the summer research students each year will be entering freshmen that participated during previous summers in the Bridge Program. Engaging minority students in research and involving them in a research community early in their college career will increase the likelihood that they will enter and stay in STEM disciplines.

适应是个体生物体根据其环境的某些方面而改变其特征的过程。适应是可逆的，这与适应不同，适应通常被定义为对长期环境变化的进化反应。适应是生物体对其周围环境的波动做出反应的重要机制。自然季节温差带来的特性变化特别令人感兴趣，通常在实验室中适应特定温度的动物身上进行研究，这些温度模仿了自然环境中的温度。因此，对自然季节温度的适应和实验室中对各种温度的适应已经在许多类群、脊椎动物和无脊椎动物以及植物中得到了很好的描述。尽管季节性热适应和驯化具有广泛的性质，但控制和协调这些过程的机制仍然难以捉摸。本研究利用两栖动物模型的实验室驯化实验来阐明负责控制和协调单个物种（东部红斑蝾螈）热驯化的细胞、分子和环境机制。它将提供对单一冷血脊椎动物物种的适应最完整的研究之一，并将导致对其自然环境适应机制的深入了解。 PI 与本科生同事将研究与温度调节和适应过程相关的基因表达。研究人员将通过饮食操作人为改变细胞膜成分，以确定特定细胞膜成分在适应过程中的作用。质谱分析法的使用将使他们能够识别对代谢酶活性至关重要的特定膜成分。控制日长和温度的实验室驯化实验将确定对驯化过程最重要的环境因素。了解环境如何影响个体特征将有助于更好地了解当前不断变化的全球气温如何影响物种分布和生存。面对不断变化的全球环境，此类信息对于确定最佳保护实践至关重要。该项目将产生超出研究本身广泛科学影响的巨大影响。作为文科机构的生物学教授，PI 始终与本科生共同作者在领先的科学期刊上发表论文。资金将为十到十二名本科生提供夏季津贴，并为这些学生提供参加全国会议展示其研究成果的旅费。此外，PI还将与大学的高中少数民族项目“数学和科学桥梁项目”协调，以增加少数民族学生对研究的参与。每年一到两名暑期研究生将成为参加过之前暑期桥梁课程的新生。让少数族裔学生参与研究并在大学生涯早期让他们参与研究社区将增加他们进入并留在 STEM 学科的可能性。