DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The genome-wide occupancy and thermosensitivity of histone variant H2A.Z in embryonic Chrysemys picta, a turtle with temperature-dependent sex determination

论文研究：Chrysemys picta 胚胎中组蛋白变体 H2A.Z 的全基因组占据和热敏感性，这是一种具有温度依赖性性别决定的海龟

• 批准号: 1310793
• 负责人: Nicole Valenzuela
• 金额: $ 1.92万
• 依托单位: Iowa State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-05-15 至 2016-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1310793&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; genome; wide; occupancy

In most animals, the sex of the offspring is determined by its genetic constitution (Genotypic Sex Determination, GSD) while in others it is determined by the incubation temperature during development (Temperature-dependent Sex Determination, TSD). In TSD, genes important for the formation of males or females are switched on/off depending on the temperature, but the exact molecular mechanism by which temperature operates remains unknown. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that H2A.Z, a DNA-binding protein known to be thermosensitive in plants and fungi, is also thermosensitivity in TSD vertebrates and responsible for making the DNA more or less accessible to activation, thus translating the temperature signal into differential gene expression. Using the painted turtle Chrysemys picta (TSD) and Next-Generation DNA Sequencing technology, the location and thermosensitivity of H2A.Z binding to DNA will be mapped across the turtle genome. This project proposes a novel hypothesis about how animals sense and respond to temperature, which if true, could transform our understanding both how sex is determined in TSD vertebrates, and how temperature affects overall vertebrate development. This project provides many opportunities for undergraduate research, and both the PI and Co-PI are committed to providing educational and research experiences to underrepresented groups in science. The Co-PI is also an NSF GK-12 Fellow, bringing science education to local middle school classrooms and public speaking events.

在大多数动物中，后代的性别是由其遗传组成决定的（基因型性别决定，GSD），而在其他动物中，它是由发育过程中的孵化温度决定的（温度依赖性性别决定，TSD）。在TSD中，对雄性或雌性形成重要的基因取决于温度而打开/关闭，但温度运作的确切分子机制仍然未知。该项目的目标是测试以下假设：已知在植物和真菌中具有热敏性的DNA结合蛋白H2A.Z在TSD脊椎动物中也具有热敏性，并且负责使DNA或多或少地易于激活，从而将温度信号转化为差异基因表达。利用彩龟Spicta（TSD）和下一代DNA测序技术，H2A.Z与DNA结合的位置和热敏性将在整个海龟基因组中定位。该项目提出了一个关于动物如何感知和响应温度的新假设，如果这是真的，可以改变我们对TSD脊椎动物性别如何决定以及温度如何影响整体脊椎动物发育的理解。该项目为本科生研究提供了许多机会，PI和Co-PI都致力于为科学领域代表性不足的群体提供教育和研究经验。共同PI也是NSF GK-12研究员，将科学教育带到当地中学课堂和公开演讲活动中。