NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019: The role of RNA editing in thermal acclimation of the octopus nervous system.

这一行动为NSF 2019财年生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，扩大了生物学领域代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持一项针对该研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。这项研究的目的是更好地了解神经元(在我们神经系统中执行通信的细胞)如何适应环境温度的变化。正常的神经系统功能依赖于许多对温度敏感的过程。目前，冷血动物的神经系统如何适应温度变化还不是很清楚。关于这一主题的大多数研究都考察了蛋白质或DNA如何随温度变化而变化。然而，这项研究将研究RNA如何随温度变化，并将使用章鱼作为模型系统来实现这一点。章鱼能够通过一种被称为“RNA编辑”的过程来编辑它们的大部分RNA，以产生新的蛋白质。然而，目前仍不清楚这是如何实现的。通过RNA编辑改变蛋白质功能的例子很少在任何动物身上被记录下来，也没有一个是由于温度驯化的结果。这项研究的发现将有助于确定RNA编辑是否是章鱼神经系统适应快速温度波动的重要机制。除了这项研究，该研究员还将促进海洋生物实验室和波多黎各大学主持方法研讨会的研究更多地纳入代表性不足的群体。这项调查将确定章鱼对温度敏感的RNA编辑的规模和时间动态。拟议的实验检验了记录事件在RNA和蛋白质水平上响应急性温度波动的速度有多快。另外的实验将检测驱动蛋白和突触素中对温度敏感的氨基酸替换，这两种蛋白质对神经元功能至关重要，并询问它们是否会改变蛋白质功能以提供温度补偿。这位研究员试图通过一项三点计划，扩大海洋生物实验室生物学领域中代表性不足的群体的参与。通过在MBL多样性委员会的角色，该研究员将1)为已经在MBL的少数族裔拓宽职业发展机会，2)促进少数族裔服务机构为世界知名的MBL课程提供招生和资助机会，以及3)培训少数族裔本科生分子生物学和整体生物体生理学方法。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2019, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The objective of this study is to better understand how neurons (the cells that perform the communication in our nervous system) acclimate to changes in environmental temperature. Proper nervous system function is dependent on many temperature-sensitive processes. Currently, it is not well understood how the nervous system of cold-blooded animals acclimates to temperature changes. Most studies on this topic have examined either how proteins or DNA changes in response to temperature change. However, this study will investigate how RNA changes in response to temperature, and will use the octopus as a model system to do so. Octopuses are able to edit a large proportion of their RNAs via a process called "RNA editing" to produce new proteins. However, it remains unclear how this is accomplished. Few examples of altered protein function through RNA editing have been documented in any animal, and none as a result of temperature acclimation. The findings from this study will help determine whether RNA editing is an important mechanism for acclimation in the octopus nervous system to rapid temperature fluctuations. In addition to this research, the fellow will promote greater inclusion of underrepresented groups in research at the Marine Biological Laboratory and host methods workshops at the University of Puerto Rico.This investigation will determine the magnitude and temporal dynamics of temperature-sensitive RNA editing in the octopus. The proposed experiments examine how quickly recoding events can change in response to acute temperature fluctuations at both the RNA and protein levels. Additional experiments will examine temperature-sensitive amino acid substitutions in kinesin and synaptotagmin, two important proteins for neuronal function, and ask whether they alter protein function to provide temperature compensation. The fellow seeks to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in biology at the Marine Biological Laboratory with a 3-point plan. Through a role on the MBL Diversity Committee, the fellow will 1) broaden career development opportunities for minorities already present at the MBL, 2) promote enrollment and funding opportunities at minority-serving institutions for world-renown MBL courses, and 3) train minority undergraduate students in molecular biology and approaches to whole organism physiology.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.