Collaborative Research: EDGE CMT: Discovery and functional characterization of genes that govern ciliate-algal symbiosis

刺胞动物，尤其是珊瑚，是海洋生态系统的基石，并由共生的甲藻藻提供动力。然而，这些共生关系特别容易受到环境干扰，如高温，这可能导致藻类的损失，称为漂白。阻止珊瑚和其他物种白化的战略可以为保护工作提供信息，以克服全球珊瑚礁面临的危机。该项目将利用单细胞模型，涉及纤毛虫，形成内共生关系与甲藻藻类，以确定这些共生关系的分子和细胞机制。在这个项目中获得的关于共生的分子基础的知识将提供对共生在压力下如何分解的更深入的理解，并可能允许制定减轻珊瑚漂白的战略。此外，这一项目将直接导致来自关岛大学和加州大学滨江分校的具有不同背景的年轻科学家的培训和职业发展，这两所大学都是为少数群体服务的机构。共生藻科中的内共生藻类为刺胞动物提供动力，如珊瑚、海葵和水母，它们是海洋生态系统的基石，但越来越受到环境扰动和压力的威胁。尽管刺胞动物共生的关键性质，管理这种共生相互作用的基本机制仍然在很大程度上未知。大多数共生菌科共生菌的基因由于对其功能的了解极其有限，无法进行假设驱动的研究。为了克服这些局限性，本项目将利用单细胞纤毛虫模型，通过采用系统的高通量筛选和蛋白质标签方法，使基因型-表型关系的识别。该项目有望阐明涉及共生菌科的内共生的新机制，并为共生所需的基因功能提供前所未有的见解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Cnidarians, most notably corals, are cornerstones of marine ecosystems and are powered by their symbiotic dinoflagellate algae. However, these symbiotic relationships are particularly susceptible to environmental perturbations such as high temperature, that can result in the loss of the algae, known as bleaching. Strategies to stem bleaching of corals and other species can inform conservation efforts to overcome the crisis coral reefs face globally. This project will utilize a single-celled model involving a ciliate that forms endosymbiotic relationships with dinoflagellate algae to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing these symbiotic relationships. The knowledge gained about the molecular basis of the symbiosis in this project will provide a deeper understanding of how symbiosis breaks down under stress and may allow for the development of strategies to mitigate coral bleaching. Additionally, this project will directly lead to the training and career development for young scientists with diverse backgrounds from the University of Guam and the University of California, Riverside, both of which are Minority-Serving Institutions. Endosymbiotic algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae power cnidarians, like corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, which are cornerstones of marine ecosystems but have been increasingly threatened by environmental perturbations and stress. Despite the critical nature of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, the underlying mechanisms that govern this symbiotic interaction remain largely unknown. Most of the genes in Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis are not accessible to hypothesis-driven research due to extremely limited knowledge about their function. To overcome these limitations, this project will utilize a single-celled ciliate model which enables identification of genotype-phenotype relationships by employing systematic high-throughput screening and protein tagging approaches. This project is expected to elucidate novel mechanisms of endosymbiosis involving Symbiodiniaceae and provide unprecedented insights to the gene functions required for symbiosis in general.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.