How development forms specific function: the highly unusual visual system of diving beetle larvae.

发育如何形成特定功能：潜水甲虫幼虫极不寻常的视觉系统。

基本信息

批准号：
1456757
负责人：
Elke Buschbeck
金额：
$ 60万
依托单位：
University of Cincinnati Main Campus
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2015
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2015-08-15 至 2020-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1456757&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
How development forms specific function

项目摘要

A fundamental question in biology is whether particular genes serve the same function in all animals. Eyes are a good system to address this type of question because there is such a diversity of eye types in the animal kingdom. There are many genes that are known to be important for both vertebrate and invertebrate eye development, but the eye genes that have been studied have only been studied in a very few organisms. So, it remains unclear how specific eye genes contribute to eye diversity. To address this question, the PIs have developed tools allowing them to investigate the development of the functionally complex, image-forming eyes of Sunburst Diving Beetle larvae. The beetle larvae eyes are quite different from the commonly studied fruit fly eyes and, in some ways, are more like vertebrate eyes. In this project, the PIs will compare genes for eye functions in these animals to see what is common and what is different between the two eye systems. The goal of the project is to understand the molecular basis for functional and structural eye diversity. This project will provide opportunities for training high school, undergraduate and graduate students to carry out molecular and physiological research. In addition, monthly outreach activities at the nearby Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (which houses a large Sunburst Diving Beetle display) will allow the research group to widely disseminate their findings and foster awareness of the value of conducting basic comparative research. Preliminary data from this research group suggest that many key genes are present in the eyes of beetles and flies, pointing towards fundamental molecular mechanisms of wide interest. However, there are informative differences in regards to when and where key genes are active. To investigate this further, the PIs will analyze tissue-specific gene and protein expression profiles (which is only possible in the very enlarged beetle eyes) and determine when and where key eye development genes are expressed within these eyes. In addition, using a gene knock-down approach in the beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus), developed in the lab, and accompanying state of the art genetic tests in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), different factors will be functionally dissected to compare and contrast the roles of genes associated with Drosophila eye and photoreceptor specification, photoreceptor function and lens development.

生物学的一个基本问题是特定基因在所有动物中是否具有相同的功能。眼睛是一个很好的系统来解决此类问题，因为动物界有多种眼睛类型。许多基因对脊椎动物和无脊椎动物眼发发育都很重要，但是研究的眼基因仅在很少的生物体中进行了研究。因此，目前尚不清楚特定的眼科基因如何促进眼睛多样性。为了解决这个问题，PI开发了工具，使他们能够研究Sunburst潜水甲虫幼虫的功能复杂，形成图像的眼睛的发展。甲虫幼虫的眼睛与经常研究的果蝇的眼睛完全不同，在某些方面，更像是脊椎动物的眼睛。在这个项目中，PI将比较这些动物的眼功能的基因，以查看两种眼系统之间的常见和不同之处。该项目的目的是了解功能和结构眼多样性的分子基础。该项目将为培训高中，本科生和研究生提供分子和生理学研究的机会。此外，附近辛辛那提动物园和植物园（容纳大型阳光潜水甲虫展示）的每月外展活动将使研究小组可以广泛传播他们的发现，并提高对进行基本比较研究的价值的认识。该研究小组的初步数据表明，甲虫和苍蝇的眼睛中存在许多关键基因，指向广泛关注的基本分子机制。但是，关于关键基因在何时何地活跃的何时差异。为了进一步研究这一点，PI将分析组织特异性基因和蛋白质表达谱（仅在非常放大的甲壳虫眼中），并确定在这些眼中表达关键眼睛发育基因的何时何地。 In addition, using a gene knock-down approach in the beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus), developed in the lab, and accompanying state of the art genetic tests in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), different factors will be functionally dissected to compare and contrast the roles of genes associated with Drosophila eye and photoreceptor specification, photoreceptor function and lens development.

项目成果

期刊论文数量（3）

专著数量（0）

科研奖励数量（0）

会议论文数量（0）

专利数量（0）

RNA Interference in Aquatic Beetles as a Powerful Tool for Manipulating Gene Expression at Specific Developmental Time Points

水生甲虫中的 RNA 干扰是在特定发育时间点操纵基因表达的强大工具

DOI：
10.3791/61477
发表时间：
2020
期刊：
Journal of Visualized Experiments
影响因子：
0
作者：
Rathore, Shubham;Hassert, Jenni;Clark-Hachtel, Courtney M.;Stahl, Aaron;Tomoyasu, Yoshinori;Bushbeck, Elke K.
通讯作者：
Bushbeck, Elke K.

Carbon Nanotube Fibers for Neural Recording and Stimulation