权益分类	功能权益	普通用户	{{item.name}}会员
{{category.name}}	{{benefitItem.name}}

Adaptive Evolution of Gene Expression and Alternative Splicing

基因表达的适应性进化和选择性剪接

基本信息

批准号：
1754745
负责人：
John Pool
金额：
$ 76.07万
依托单位：
University of Wisconsin-Madison
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2018
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2018-06-01 至 2023-05-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1754745&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Adaptive Evolution Gene Expression Alternative

项目摘要

A single gene often encodes numerous proteins by assembling different components from the original DNA sequence. These proteins have different functions. Thus, the number and type of proteins produced from a gene, i.e., gene regulation, are important aspects of how an organism functions. The investigators will look across the whole genome in natural populations of the fruit fly that have adapted to different temperature environments. By comparing gene regulation among these populations, they will learn how gene regulation changes as organisms adapt to their environment. The project will provide an unusually complete view of the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of the evolution of gene regulation. It will also inform how insects adapt to novel environments. Thus, they will also learn about the factors that limit the geographic ranges of insects that are agricultural pests or disease vectors. Broader impacts of this project include extensive training of young scientists, including members of underrepresented groups in science. The project will also strengthen scientific connections between U.S. researchers and their counterparts in Africa. Finally, the team will improve the quality of scientific reference material available to the public online.The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster originated from warm regions of Africa; this research focuses on three parallel instances of adaptation to colder climates. The project includes the collection of RNA sequence data from three pairs of warm- and cold-adapted populations that encompass these three climate transitions. By applying a population genetic framework to this data set, population differences in gene expression and alternative splicing that were most likely driven by local adaptation can be identified. Crosses between warm- and cold-adapted populations will allow these changes to be classified as either cis-encoded at the affected gene, or trans-encoded by another gene. For cis-encoded cases of adaptive expression or splicing evolution, patterns of genetic variation can illuminate key details of natural selection's mode of action. Researchers will use existing population genomic data to test whether selection favored new mutations or standing genetic variation. The project also entails the genetic mapping of cold tolerance differences for each population pair. The combination of mapping results, population genomic analysis of existing data, and the above RNA sequencing results will identify notable candidate genes for local adaptation via cis-acting changes in gene regulation. Probing the interface between genetic adaptation and the thermal environment will test whether gene regulatory changes alter or maintain ancestral regulation, and whether such changes result in gene regulatory networks that are less buffered against perturbation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

单个基因通常通过组装来自原始DNA序列的不同组分来编码许多蛋白质。这些蛋白质具有不同的功能。因此，从基因产生的蛋白质的数量和类型，即，基因调控是生物体功能的重要方面。研究人员将研究适应不同温度环境的果蝇自然种群的整个基因组。通过比较这些种群之间的基因调控，他们将了解基因调控如何随着生物体适应环境而变化。该项目将提供一个不寻常的原因，机制和基因调控进化的后果的完整视图。它还将告诉昆虫如何适应新的环境。因此，他们还将了解限制农业害虫或疾病媒介昆虫地理范围的因素。该项目的更广泛影响包括对青年科学家，包括科学界代表性不足群体的成员进行广泛培训。该项目还将加强美国研究人员与非洲同行之间的科学联系。最后，该团队将提高公众在线获得的科学参考材料的质量。果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）起源于非洲温暖地区;这项研究的重点是适应寒冷气候的三个平行实例。该项目包括收集来自三对温暖和寒冷适应人群的RNA序列数据，这些人群涵盖了这三个气候转变。通过将群体遗传框架应用于该数据集，可以确定最有可能由局部适应驱动的基因表达和选择性剪接的群体差异。温暖和寒冷适应人群之间的交叉将允许这些变化被归类为受影响基因的顺式编码，或由另一个基因反式编码。对于适应性表达或剪接进化的顺式编码案例，遗传变异模式可以阐明自然选择作用模式的关键细节。研究人员将利用现有的群体基因组数据来测试选择是否有利于新的突变或长期遗传变异。该项目还需要对每对种群的耐寒性差异进行遗传作图。作图结果、现有数据的群体基因组分析和上述RNA测序结果的组合将通过基因调控中的顺式作用变化来鉴定用于局部适应的显著候选基因。探索遗传适应和热环境之间的接口将测试基因调控的变化是否改变或维持祖先的调控，以及这种变化是否导致基因调控网络对扰动的缓冲减少。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。