Eyespot Placement and Assembly in Chlamydomonas

衣藻眼点的放置和组装

• 批准号: 1157795
• 负责人: Carol Dieckmann
• 金额: $ 64.91万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-15 至 2017-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1157795&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Eyespot; Placement; Assembly; Chlamydomonas

INTELLECTUAL MERITThis research uses the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to understand how complex molecular structures are assembled at specific locations within a cell. Chlamydomonas is a single-celled, photosynthetic alga found in freshwater habitats throughout the world. Chlamydomonas cells optimize photosynthesis by swimming toward or away from light using two flagella (the mother flagellum and the daughter flagellum) at the anterior end of the cell. Light intensity and direction are sensed by the eyespot, a complex structure that is always found at the outer edge of the cell, half way between the anterior and posterior ends of the cell, on the same side of the cell as the daughter flagellum. The eyespot contains photoreceptor proteins that are similar to the rhodopsins in mammalian eyes, and a variety of other proteins that are located in the cell membrane layers or lipid granules that are unique to the eyespot. This research will test the hypothesis that the photoreceptor proteins are required for the assembly and/or placement of the eyespot, and will identify and characterize other proteins involved in eyespot formation. A molecular model of eyespot assembly resulting from this research will be applicable to studies of a wide variety of other sub-cellular structures in other biological systems.BROADER IMPACTSChlamydomonas has long been a model organism for the study of photosynthesis and flagellar assembly, so the conditions for growth, genetic manipulation, and molecular characterization of this photosynthetic alga are well established. Studying the Chlamydomonas eyespot is, therefore, an excellent model system for training the diverse group of young scientists pursuing degrees at the University of Arizona. A number of undergraduate and graduate students have completed their senior, honor, or Ph. D. theses studying eyespot assembly, and University of Arizona students continue to pursue eyespot-related research. Additionally, established relationships with two small college professors and their students will continue. Because the grass-green Chlamydomonas cell with its bright orange eyespot and long flagella is easily viewed through the light microscope, visiting the laboratory has also been popular with grade school students. In response, the researchers have developed Chlamydomonas-based biology lessons that will be presented to K-12 students in their classrooms. Chlamydomonas is only one of a very large number of photosynthetic microorganisms that respond to light. Student interest in Chlamydomonas is increasing as these microorganisms become the focus of efforts to produce food and fuel using energy from the sun.

智力优势这项研究使用模式生物莱茵衣藻来了解复杂的分子结构是如何在细胞内的特定位置组装的。衣原体是一种单细胞光合细菌，在世界各地的淡水栖息地发现。披衣细胞利用细胞前端的两个鞭毛（母鞭毛和子鞭毛）游向或远离光线来优化光合作用。光的强度和方向由眼点感知，这是一种复杂的结构，总是在细胞的外边缘发现，在细胞的前端和后端之间的中间，在细胞的同一侧作为子鞭毛。眼斑含有类似于哺乳动物眼睛中的视紫红质的感光蛋白，以及位于细胞膜层或眼斑特有的脂质颗粒中的各种其他蛋白。这项研究将测试的假设，感光蛋白的组装和/或放置的眼点，并将识别和表征其他蛋白质参与眼点的形成。从这项研究中产生的眼点组装的分子模型将适用于其他生物系统中的各种其他亚细胞结构的研究。更广泛的影响衣原体长期以来一直是光合作用和鞭毛组装研究的模式生物，因此这种光合细菌的生长条件，遗传操作和分子特征都很好地建立。因此，研究衣原体眼斑是一个很好的模型系统，用于培训在亚利桑那大学攻读学位的各种年轻科学家。一些本科生和研究生已经完成了他们的高级，荣誉，或博士学位。研究眼点组装的论文，亚利桑那大学的学生继续进行与眼点相关的研究。此外，与两个小大学教授和他们的学生建立的关系将继续下去。由于草绿色的披衣菌细胞有明亮的橙子眼点和长长的鞭毛，很容易通过光学显微镜观察到，参观实验室也受到小学生的欢迎。作为回应，研究人员开发了基于衣原体的生物课程，将在教室里向K-12学生提供。披衣菌只是众多对光有反应的光合微生物中的一种。随着这些微生物成为利用太阳能生产食物和燃料的努力的焦点，学生对衣原体的兴趣正在增加。