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，由它们共生的鞭毛藻提供动力。然而，这些共生关系特别容易受到环境扰动的影响，比如高温，这会导致藻类的损失，也就是所谓的白化。阻止珊瑚和其他物种白化的策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，包括与鞭毛藻形成内共生关系的纤毛虫，以确定控制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使我们更深入地了解共生在压力下是如何分解的，并可能允许制定缓解珊瑚白化的策略。此外，该项目将直接导致来自关岛大学和加州大学河滨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民族服务的机构。共生体科的内共生藻类，如珊瑚、海葵和水母，是海洋生态系统的基石，但受到环境扰动和压力的威胁越来越大。尽管刺胞菌与共生菌科的共生关系具有重要的性质，但控制这种共生相互作用的潜在机制在很大程度上仍然未知。由于对其功能的了解非常有限，共生科共生中的大多数基因无法进行假设驱动的研究。为了克服这些限制，该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记方法来鉴定基因型-表型关系。该项目有望阐明共生科内共生的新机制，并为共生所需的基因功能提供前所未有的见解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.