DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Mechanisms driving evolutionary innovation through gene duplication in the amino acid transporters of sap-feeding insects

基因复制对进化创新很重要。当基因复制时，最初的拷贝是相同的，但可以向不同的方向进化，从而导致新基因、新代谢途径甚至新发育途径的进化。我们知道基因经常复制，但我们不知道？我们不能完全理解驱动重复基因独立进化的过程和机制。合作PI邓肯和PI威尔逊将通过检查重复后几个基因拷贝的进化轨迹来检验重复基因如何进化的不同假设。他们的研究将集中在柑橘粉蚧上，这是一种取食汁液的昆虫，它在运输氨基酸的基因中经历了广泛的复制，氨基酸是所有生物体正常细胞功能所必需的营养物质。PI将比较三种类型的氨基酸转运蛋白之间的表达和转运的氨基酸：（1）复制的粉蚧转运蛋白，（2）其他昆虫中的相关单拷贝转运蛋白，以及（3）邓肯和威尔逊将合成复活的灭绝的粉蚧转运蛋白。此外，邓肯和威尔逊将使用计算机程序来测试自然选择在粉蚧重复氨基酸转运蛋白进化过程中的作用。该项目将确定哪些进化和分子机制在柑橘粉蚧重复氨基酸转运蛋白进化中最重要。这些结果将有助于我们全面了解基因复制后基因拷贝进化中不同机制的重要性，从而了解这些机制在推动整个生命之树的进化创新中所起的作用。此外，氨基酸转运蛋白对生存至关重要，因此这项研究可以确定控制柑橘粉蚧种群的潜在目标，柑橘粉蚧是柑橘和其他商业重要植物的害虫。通过为迈阿密大学的本科生提供在共同PI邓肯的指导下在实验室环境中进行研究的机会，该项目将促进发现和学习。迈阿密大学的本科生在文化和种族上是多样化的，为生物科学领域代表性不足的本科生提供了研究机会。最后，邓肯和威尔逊将分享他们的研究结果与公众在生物系开放的房子，共同PI邓肯将组织在迈阿密校友周大学。

Gene duplication is important for evolutionary innovation. When genes duplicate, the copies are identical at first but can evolve in different directions resulting in the evolution of new genes, new metabolic pathways and even new developmental pathways. We know genes duplicate often but we don?t fully understand the processes and mechanisms that drive independent evolution of duplicate genes. Co-PI Duncan and PI Wilson will test among different hypotheses of how duplicated genes evolve by examining the evolutionary trajectory of several gene copies following duplication. Their research will focus on the citrus mealybug, a sap-feeding insect that underwent extensive duplication in genes that transport amino acids, nutrients that are essential for normal cellular function in all organisms. The PIs will compare expression and amino acids transported between three types of amino acid transporters: (1) duplicated mealybug transporters, (2) related single-copy transporters in other insects, and (3) the extinct mealybug transporter that Duncan and Wilson will synthetically resurrect. Further, Duncan and Wilson will use computer programs to test the role of natural selection during the evolution of duplicated amino acid transporters in the mealybug.This project will establish which evolutionary and molecular mechanisms are most important in the evolution of duplicated amino acid transporters in the citrus mealybug. The results will contribute to our general understanding of the importance of different mechanisms in the evolution of gene copies following gene duplication, and thus the role these mechanisms play in driving evolutionary innovation across the tree of life. Further, amino acid transporters are essential for survival, so this research could identify potential targets for controlling populations of the citrus mealybug, a pest of citrus and other commercially important plants. By providing opportunities for University of Miami undergraduates to conduct research in a lab setting under the mentorship of co-PI Duncan, this project will advance discovery and learning. Undergraduates at the University of Miami are culturally and ethnically diverse, providing research opportunities for undergraduates underrepresented in the biological sciences. Finally, Duncan and Wilson will share their findings with the general public in a Department of Biology open house that co-PI Duncan will organize during the University of Miami Alumni Week.