cis-Regulatory Architecture of Adaptive Radiation

自适应辐射的顺式监管架构

• 批准号: 1354318
• 负责人: Robert Reed
• 金额: $ 74万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-05-01 至 2017-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1354318&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: cis; Regulatory; Architecture; Adaptive; Radiation

DNA sequences that act to determine where, when, and to what degree genes are expressed are called cis-regulatory elements. It is estimated that these elements outnumber genes over 20 to 1 in the human genome, and it is becoming increasingly clear that much of the morphological diversity we see in nature is related to variation in these elements. This is true for both complex and simple traits, for variation within and between populations, and for changes at micro- and macro-evolutionary time scales. Although variation in the traits of organisms often traces to these elements within the genome, they remain poorly understood relative to protein-coding sequences of the genome. This projects seeks to gain a better understanding of how regulatory elements can drive the adaptation of complex traits. Specifically, the research will characterize the cis-regulatory architecture driving adaptive evolution of wing pattern coloration in Heliconius butterflies, an organismal system that has emerged as an important model for understanding the genomic dynamics of adaptation.This research will address several fundamental questions including: (1) How are regulatory elements structured around genes that control rapidly evolving, highly variable traits? (2) How does regulatory element structure and activity evolve during the adaptive radiation of complex morphologies? (3) To what degree is similarity in morphology controlled by similarity of regulatory elements? This work will also help develop and adapt important new functional genomics techniques to facilitate the broader study of cis-regulatory elements across species. This project will also engage the public through the production of an IMAX documentary film that will incorporate stop action animations of butterfly wing development.

决定基因表达的位置、时间和程度的DNA序列称为顺式调控元件。据估计，在人类基因组中，这些元素的数量超过基因的20倍，而且越来越清楚的是，我们在自然界中看到的许多形态多样性都与这些元素的变异有关。无论是复杂的还是简单的性状，种群内和种群间的变异，以及微观和宏观进化时间尺度上的变化，都是如此。虽然生物体性状的变异通常可以追溯到基因组中的这些元件，但相对于基因组的蛋白质编码序列，它们仍然知之甚少。该项目旨在更好地了解调控因素如何驱动复杂性状的适应。具体而言，该研究将描述驱动Heliconius蝴蝶翅膀图案着色的适应性进化的顺式调节结构，Heliconius蝴蝶是一种有机体系统，已成为理解适应性基因组动态的重要模型，该研究将解决几个基本问题，包括：（1）如何围绕控制快速进化，高度可变性状的基因构建调节元件？(2)在复杂形态的适应性辐射过程中，调控元件的结构和活性是如何演变的？(3)调控元件的相似性在多大程度上控制了形态学的相似性？这项工作还将有助于开发和调整重要的新功能基因组学技术，以促进对跨物种顺式调节元件的更广泛研究。 该项目还将通过制作一部IMAX纪录片吸引公众参与，该纪录片将包含蝴蝶翅膀发育的停止动作动画。