Collaborative Research: RUI: Mathematical and empirical investigation of a reaction-diffusion system for spot formation in hybrid Mimulus

合作研究：RUI：混合酸浆中斑点形成反应扩散系统的数学和实证研究

• 批准号: 2031275
• 负责人: Joshua Puzey
• 金额: $ 30.64万
• 依托单位: College of William and Mary
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-03-15 至 2025-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2031275&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; RUI; Mathematical; empirical

Life on earth exhibits a dazzling array of patterns. These range from internal patterns, like the repetition of vertebrae in the spinal cord, to external patterns like the stripes of black pigment on a zebra. There are two ideas about how these patterns might form. The “positional specification” model is that the patterns are created by a set of genes being turned on in specific locations in a controlled fashion. The “reaction-diffusion” model is that patterns can arise from a self-organizing system of interacting genes. According to this second model, the location of each pattern component is determined by random fluctuations in one gene’s activity level. Other genes in the network respond to the first gene to create the elements needed for making a unit of the pattern. Some traits, such as petal spots in the monkeyflower genus Mimulus, appear to depend on both types of pattern formation. This petal-spot system is being used to study both positional specification and reaction-diffusion, and how they interact to create new, complex patterns in nature. The collaborative project creates research opportunities for one Ph.D. student and eighteen undergraduates. Three high school students will be recruited from a public school in rural Walla Walla, WA that specifically serves youth not routinely exposed to scientific experiences. Previous work in Mimulus has established that nectar guide spots of red anthocyanin pigment are formed in a manner consistent with a reaction-diffusion system. The discovery of elaborate spot patterns in the petal lobes of Mimulus cupreus x M. luteus var. variegatus hybrids creates a unique opportunity to examine (a) whether this reaction-diffusion system explains floral patterning in Mimulus more generally, (b) whether positional cues originating from petal vasculature shape these patterns, and (c) how the inter-genomic interactions associated with hybridization can generate novel phenotypes not seen in either parent species. The researchers will first develop a reaction-diffusion model that recreates the distribution of anthocyanin spotting phenotypes observed in a hybrid F2 genetic mapping population. They will test this model by examining the diverse sets of homozygous genotypes present in a Recombinant Inbred Line population, and by using transgenic manipulation to alter the expression of key genes in the anthocyanin regulatory network. Finally, they will investigate the hypothesis that petal vasculature influences the location of spot formation. This will be achieved by using digital image analysis and spatial statistics to test for correlations between spot and vein locations, and experimentally manipulating vein development through chemical and transgenic perturbations to test for effects on spot formation.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.

地球上的生命呈现出一系列令人眼花缭乱的模式。这些模式包括内部模式，如脊髓中椎骨的重复，到外部模式，如斑马身上的黑色色素条纹。关于这些模式如何形成，有两种观点。“位置规范”模型是指模式是由一组基因以受控的方式在特定位置打开而产生的。“反应-扩散”模型认为，模式可以从相互作用的基因的自组织系统中产生。根据第二个模型，每个模式组件的位置是由一个基因的活性水平的随机波动决定的。网络中的其他基因对第一个基因做出反应，创造出构成图案单元所需的元素。一些特征，如猴花属Mimulus的花瓣斑点，似乎取决于这两种类型的图案形成。这种花瓣-斑点系统被用来研究位置规范和反应扩散，以及它们如何相互作用，在自然界中创造新的复杂模式。该合作项目为一名博士创造了研究机会。学生和18名本科生。三名高中生将从西澳瓦拉瓦拉农村的一所公立学校招募，该学校专门为那些不经常接触科学经验的年轻人服务。先前在Mimulus中的工作已经确定红色花青素苷色素的花蜜引导点以与反应扩散系统一致的方式形成。在Mimulus cupreus x M的花瓣裂片中发现了精细的斑点图案。鲁特乌斯变种variegatus杂种创造了一个独特的机会，以检查（a）是否这种反应扩散系统解释花图案在Mimulus更普遍，（B）是否来自花瓣脉管系统的位置线索形状这些模式，和（c）如何与杂交相关的基因组间的相互作用可以产生新的表型没有看到在任何一个亲本物种。研究人员将首先开发一种反应扩散模型，该模型重现了在杂交F2遗传作图群体中观察到的花青素斑点表型的分布。他们将通过检查重组近交系群体中存在的各种纯合基因型，并通过使用转基因操作来改变花青素调控网络中关键基因的表达来测试该模型。最后，他们将研究花瓣脉管系统影响斑点形成位置的假设。这将通过使用数字图像分析和空间统计来测试斑点和静脉位置之间的相关性，并通过化学和转基因扰动实验性地操纵静脉发育来测试斑点形成的影响来实现。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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来支持的。