Characterization of Aphid Nutrient Amino Acid Transporters with Focus on the Symbiotic Interface

亚历山德拉角C. WilsonProposal # IOS-1121847蚜虫营养氨基酸转运蛋白的表征，重点关注共生界面人类与其肠道植物群之间的共生体以及恰加斯病的昆虫载体及其专性细菌在自然界中普遍存在，影响人类健康、生物多样性和农业。以哺乳动物血液或植物汁液为食的昆虫，在它们与细菌的亲密共生关系中联合起来，以补偿它们宿主的营养。虽然这些共生体的营养基础是很好的理解，调解共生伙伴之间的亲密相互作用的过程和结构一直被忽视，仍然没有特征。本项目旨在功能上表征介导蚜虫与其细菌共生体Buchnera aphidicola之间氨基酸交换的过程和结构。Buchnera生活在蚜虫细菌细胞内的膜间。细菌细胞的膜和专门的隔室对氨基酸交换提出了挑战，这是蚜虫生存的关键过程。具体而言，本项目的重点是研究蚜虫/Buchner界面上跨膜转运氨基酸的分子。研究人员将通过实验确定氨基酸转运蛋白的转运能力，并使用显微镜来确定这些转运蛋白的位置。研究和教育目标将合并在测量氨基酸转运蛋白基因表达的变化，以响应饮食氨基酸供应，为多达96名本科生提供基于调查的研究培训。广泛地说，这项工作有利于所有昆虫系统的基因组研究，并为一名研究生和一名早期职业研究人员提供指导和研究培训。这个项目将是第一个功能性地描述昆虫营养共生界面的过程和结构的项目。重要的是，了解昆虫如何与它们的共生体相互作用，有可能促进发展有针对性的环境安全控制人类和植物疾病的昆虫媒介。

Alexandra C. C. WilsonProposal # IOS-1121847Characterization of Aphid Nutrient Amino Acid Transporters with Focus on theSymbiotic InterfaceSymbioses such as those between humans and their gut flora and the insect vector ofChagas disease and its obligate bacterium are ubiquitous in nature impacting humanhealth, biodiversity and agriculture. Insects feeding on mammalian blood or plant sapare united in their dependence on intimate symbioses with bacteria that nutritionallycompensate their hosts. While the nutritional bases of these symbioses are wellunderstood, the processes and structures that mediate the intimate interactions betweensymbiotic partners have been neglected and remain uncharacterized. This project aimsto functionally characterize the processes and structures that mediate amino acidexchange between aphids and their bacterial symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Buchnera livewithin membrane-bound compartments inside aphid bacteriocyte cells. The membranesof the bacteriocytes and the specialized compartments present a challenge to amino acidexchange, a process vital to aphid survival. Specifically, this project focuses on studyingthe molecules that transport amino acids across membranes at the aphid/Buchnerainterface. The investigators will experimentally determine the transport capability ofamino acid transporters and use microscopy to determine where these transporters arefound. Research and educational goals will merge in measurement of changes inexpression of amino acid transporter genes in response to dietary amino acid supplyproviding inquiry-based research training for up to 96 undergraduates. Broadly thiswork benefits genomic studies in all insect systems and additionally provides mentoringand research training for one graduate student and one early-career researcher. Thisproject will be the first to functionally characterize the processes and structuresoperating at the interface of an insect nutritional symbiosis. Importantly, understandinghow insects interact with their symbionts has the potential to facilitate development oftargeted environmentally safe control of insect vectors of human and plant disease.