Collaborative Research: Bromoform production and ROS response to stress in seaweeds

这个项目将在分子水平上研究海藻如何感知和响应压力。合作小组将以海藻天冬为模型系统，研究海藻中的基因转录和酶的生化活性如何通过合成破坏臭氧的污染物溴仿来应对压力。海藻的遗传操作工具尚未开发出来，这项研究将为这一全球重要海洋生物群体的基因调控途径提供洞察力。全球变暖导致的海洋温度升高可能会增加海藻的溴仿产量，更好地了解其生产的分子机制可能会对环境和生物经济产生影响。在这项工作的过程中，一批研究生、博士后科学家和研究科学家将接受基因组学、酶学生物化学以及计算和生物生物学的跨学科培训。此外，还将向太平洋岛民本科生提供化学和生物科学方面的实践实验指导，他们是STEM教育中服务最少的社区之一。这项研究项目对参与提供活性氧物种的酶进行生化表征，如海藻中的过氧化氢，提供硫模化聚酮碳氢化合物底物的酶，以及利用过氧化氢和聚酮碳氢化合物底物合成溴仿的卤化酶。利用靶向基因转录图谱和非靶向转录组测序的组合，将在分子水平上在分子水平上查询编码这些溴仿产生酶的基因对生物和非生物胁迫的响应。将继续努力在其他海藻的酶中发现溴仿生物合成基因，如巨藻巨囊藻类。综上所述，这项研究将为消耗臭氧的污染物溴仿的自然产生以及海藻如何调节溴仿的产生以应对压力提供新的分子见解。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 project will study how seaweeds sense and respond to stress at the molecular level. The collaborative team will use the seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis as a model system to study how the transcription of genes and biochemical activities of enzymes in seaweeds respond to stress by the synthesis of the ozone-damaging pollutant bromoform. Tools for the genetic manipulation of seaweed have not yet been developed and this research will provide insight into pathways of gene regulation in this globally important group of marine organisms. Increasing ocean temperatures due to global warming may increase bromoform production in seaweeds and a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of its production could have environmental and bioeconomy impacts. During the course of this work, a cohort of graduate students, postdoctoral scientists, and research scientists will receive interdisciplinary training in genomics, enzymological biochemistry, and computational and organismal biology. In addition, hands-on experimental instruction in chemical and biological sciences will be provided to Pacific Islander undergraduate students, who are one of the most underserved communities in STEM education.This research project undertakes a biochemical characterization of enzymes involved in furnishing reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide in seaweeds, enzymes that furnish thiotemplated polyketone hydrocarbon substrates, and halogenating enzymes that use hydrogen peroxide and polyketone hydrocarbon substrates to synthesize bromoform. Using a combination of targeted gene transcriptional profiling and untargeted transcriptome sequencing, a molecular-level response to biotic and abiotic stress of genes encoding these bromoform producing enzymes will be queried in the model marine macroalgae Asparagopsis taxiformis. Efforts will be extended to discover bromoform biosynthetic genes in enzymes in other seaweeds such the giant kelp Macrocystis. Taken together, this study will provide new molecular insights into the natural production of the ozone-depleting pollutant bromoform and how the production of bromoform is modulated by seaweeds in response to stress.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.