Multifunctional Nature of Protostomian Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Like Molecules

进化在一定程度上是由控制生物体生理的分子功能的变化推动的。研究这些变化对于理解生物体为经受住时间考验而发展出的独特适应能力至关重要。一种随时间变化可以影响进化的分子是一种名为促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)的激素。促性腺激素释放激素激活生殖，以确保所有脊椎动物物种的繁殖。在无脊椎动物中，GnRH被认为也激活了生殖，尽管这一假设缺乏一致的支持。假设无脊椎动物的GnRH对生殖激活并不是普遍重要的。相反，无脊椎动物的GnRH可能在神经、运动和变形控制方面承担广泛的功能。该项目研究了促性腺激素释放激素及其相关多肽在无脊椎动物--海参--中的非生殖功能。这些研究可能揭示GnRH对无脊椎动物物种的生存至关重要的非生殖作用。为了研究促性腺激素释放激素及其相关多肽--脂肪运动激素的非生殖功能，将采用整体生物体研究与分子和生化技术相结合的方法。研究人员将致力于以下目标：1)研究GnRH在变态发育中的作用；2)进行GnRH受体异构体的体外功能分析，研究其分布；3)研究脂肪运动激素的功能。这项工作挑战了以脊椎动物为中心的观念，即无脊椎动物激素基本上起着脊椎动物荷尔蒙的作用。这一概念上的转变对于促进我们了解激素功能的变化如何有助于后生动物的生存、适应和进化具有重要意义。对于更广泛的影响，这个项目将为蔡博士提供以下机会：(1)本科生培训，(2)少数族裔招募，(3)跨部门和跨太平洋合作，(4)通过开发一个新的网站进行信息传播，利用幽默和卡通吸引K-12学生进行比较复制，以及(5)向中学生展示海参的外展活动。从这些研究中收集的数据将通过同行评议的出版物和无脊椎动物大脑平台http://invbrain.neuroinf.jp/modules/htmldocs/IVBPF/Top/index.html.共享

Evolution is driven, in part, by changes in the function of molecules that control the physiology of the organism. Studying these changes is crucial for understanding the unique adaptations developed by organisms to survive the test of time. One molecule whose change over time can influence evolution is a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH activates reproduction to ensure the propagation of all vertebrate species. In invertebrates, GnRH is assumed to also activate reproduction although consistent support for such an assumption is lacking. It is hypothesized that invertebrate GnRH is not universally important to reproductive activation in invertebrates. Instead, invertebrate GnRH may assume a wide range of functions in neural, motor, and metamorphic control. The project investigates non-reproductive function of GnRH and a related peptide in an invertebrate animal, the sea slug Aplysia californica. These studies may reveal non-reproductive roles of GnRH critical to the survival of invertebrate species. To study the non-reproductive function of GnRH and the related peptide, adipokinetic hormone, a combination of whole organism studies and molecular and biochemical techniques will be used. The investigators will address the following aims: 1) Examine the role of GnRH in metamorphic development, 2) Perform in vitro functional analysis of GnRH receptor isoforms, investigate their distribution, and 3) Investigate the function of adipokinetic hormone. The work challenges a vertebrate-centric notion that invertebrate hormones essentially function as their vertebrate counterparts. This conceptual shift is important for advancing our knowledge on how changes in hormone function contribute to the survival, adaptation, and evolution of metazoans. For broader impacts, this project will provide Dr. Tsai with opportunities for: (1) undergraduate training, (2) minority recruitment, (3) inter-departmental and trans-Pacific collaborations, (4) information dissemination via the development of a novel website that uses humor and cartoons to engage K-12 students in comparative reproduction, and (5) outreach activities to showcase sea slugs to middle school students. Data collected from these studies will be shared through peer-reviewed publications and the Invertebrate Brain Platform http://invbrain.neuroinf.jp/modules/htmldocs/IVBPF/Top/index.html.