NSF PRFB FY 2022: Identifying a Novel Green Fluorescent Small Molecule in a Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate

该行动资助 2022 财年 NSF 生物学博士后研究奖学金，旨在调查基因组、环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则的综合研究。该奖学金支持研究员的研究和培训，以创新的方式为生活规则领域做出贡献。生物荧光是一种广泛存在的光现象，许多生物体吸收并重新发射不同波长的光。对生物荧光的最早研究导致了来自水母的绿色荧光蛋白 GFP 的发现。这一发现彻底改变了生物科学，带来了海洋、医学和分子科学的突破，并最终获得了诺贝尔奖。对海洋生物荧光的进一步研究发现了许多生物体的重要功能，并且荧光研究的许多发现正在应用于医学和生物技术。尽管生物荧光对于海洋生物的功能和成功非常重要，但仍然有许多物种需要更多的研究来了解这些生物体在何处、如何以及为何发出生物荧光。该奖学金将研究这些问题，同时提供使用生物荧光的生物体生活的海洋环境的更大图景。本研究的主要目的是确定异养甲藻 Gyrodinium jinhaense AP17（新型绿色荧光分子）的结构、途径和环境分布。具体来说，该奖学金的目的是（一）确定 G. jinhaense AP17 的荧光分子结构，（二）确定绿色荧光背后的化学和分子途径，以及（三）研究这种绿色荧光在本地和全球背景下的环境分布。这些目标将通过整合分析化学技术、实验治疗、转录组学、基因沉默、宏转录组数据分析和环境采样来实现。该研究员将获得分析化学方面的新科学技能，并提高和推进当前的研究技能。此外，这些项目将包括本科生研究人员和至少一个研讨会，公众参与者将通过在显微镜下取样和观察甲藻以及其他浮游生物来了解甲藻。所有研究结果都将在小学课堂、科学会议和媒体上广泛发表和分享，以激发人们对生物学、海洋学、保护和科学过程的兴趣。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2022, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment, and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. Biofluorescence is a widespread light phenomenon where many organisms absorb and re-emit light at different wavelengths. The earliest investigations in to biofluorescence led to the discovery of the green fluorescence protein, GFP, from a jellyfish. This finding revolutionized biological science, leading to breakthroughs in marine, medical, and molecular sciences and ultimately resulting in a Nobel Prize. Further investigations into marine biofluorescence have led to discoveries of important functions in a number of organisms, and many of the discoveries from fluorescent research are being applied in medicine and biotechnology. Despite the importance of biofluorescence to the function and success of marine organisms, there are still many species where more research is needed to understand where, how, and why these organisms biofluoresce. This fellowship will investigate these questions while also providing a larger picture of the marine environment in which organisms that use biofluorescence live. The main objectives of the proposed research are to identify the structure, pathway, and environmental distribution of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate, Gyrodinium jinhaense AP17, novel green fluorescent molecule(s). Specifically, this fellowship aims to (I) determine G. jinhaense AP17’s fluorescent molecule’s structure(s), (II) identify the chemical and molecular pathways behind the green fluorescence, and (III) investigate the environmental distribution of this green fluorescence in both local and global contexts. These aims will be achieved through the integration of analytical chemical techniques, experimental treatments, transcriptomics, gene silencing, analysis of metatranscriptomic data, and environmental sampling. The fellow will gain new scientific skills in analytical chemistry as well as improve and advance current research skills. Moreover, the projects will include undergraduate researchers and at least one workshop where public participants will be introduced to dinoflagellates by sampling and observing them, with other plankton, under the microscope. All findings will be published and shared broadly from elementary classrooms to scientific meetings and with media to inspire interest in biology, oceanography, conservation, and the scientific process.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.