Collaborative Research: RedToL -- Phylogenetic and Genomic Approaches to Reconstructing the Red Algal (Rhodophyta) Tree of Life

合作研究：RedToL——重建红藻生命树的系统发育和基因组方法

• 批准号: 1317114
• 负责人: Hwan Su Yoon
• 金额: $ 24.23万
• 依托单位: Rutgers University New Brunswick
• 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: 2012-11-01 至 2014-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1317114&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; RedToL; Phylogenetic; Genomic

Red algae (Rhodophyta) are important aquatic primary producers that are one of the most anciently diverged eukaryotic phyla with fossil remains dating back to 1.2 billion years ago. The red algal plastid is widespread in the tree of life as an engine of photosynthesis in microorganisms such as diatoms and red-tide forming dinoflagellates. Red algae are also sources of important human foods such as dulse and sushi wrap and have a multitude of pharmaceutical and industrial applications (e.g., agarose and carrageenans). In spite of their obvious importance, the evolutionary tree of life for red algae is poorly known. The aim of this research is to sample broadly across the major groups of red algae and reconstruct their phylogenetic history. To accomplish the aims of RedToL, the project will: 1) reconstruct a robust phylogeny of 471 red algal species using a combined dataset of 2 nuclear, 4 plastid, and 2 mitochondrial genes, 2) obtain complete sequences for a series of 16 plastid genomes that represent the taxonomic breadth of red algae, 3) make freely available red algal multi-gene and genome data via release to GenBank and a project-specific web site. The RedToL team, which consists of prominent red algal specialists from several generations and who use different methods (from morphology to phylogenomics), will address fundamental questions of red algal evolution and their place in the tree of life. This grant will support training of undergraduates, graduates, and post-doctoral fellows from underrepresented groups, including three international graduate students. The project results will be published in scientific papers and they will be discussed in two grant-supported summer workshops and two advisory board meetings. The workshops will focus on training students to become the next-generation of red algal taxonomists. The project team will also contribute to outreach efforts through various lectures and a dedicated RedToL website.

红藻(红藻)是重要的水生初级生产者，是最古老的分化最早的真核生物门之一，其化石遗骸可以追溯到12亿年前。红藻体广泛存在于生命树中，是硅藻和形成甲藻的赤潮生物等微生物的光合作用引擎。红藻也是重要的人类食物的来源，如杜松子和寿司卷，并具有多种医药和工业应用(例如琼脂糖和卡拉胶)。尽管红藻的重要性显而易见，但人们对红藻的生命进化树知之甚少。这项研究的目的是对红藻的主要类群进行广泛采样，并重建它们的系统发育历史。为了实现RedToL的目标，该项目将：1)使用2个核、4个叶绿体和2个线粒体基因的组合数据集，重建471个红藻物种的强大系统发育；2)获得代表红藻分类广度的一系列16个叶绿体基因组的完整序列；3)通过发布到GenBank和一个特定项目的网站，免费提供红藻多基因和基因组数据。RedToL团队由来自几代人的著名红藻专家组成，他们使用不同的方法(从形态学到系统发育学)，将解决红藻进化及其在生命树中的位置的基本问题。这笔赠款将支持对来自代表性不足群体的本科生、毕业生和博士后研究员的培训，其中包括三名国际研究生。项目成果将发表在科学论文中，并将在两个赠款资助的夏季讲习班和两个咨询委员会会议上进行讨论。工作坊将重点培养学生成为下一代红藻分类学家。项目组还将通过各种讲座和专门的RedToL网站为外联工作作出贡献。