Understanding Complex Gene Editing Systems in Protists

了解原生生物中复杂的基因编辑系统

• 批准号: 7289023
• 负责人: LAURA F LANDWEBER
• 金额: $ 0.6万
• 依托单位: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-08-01 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7289023
• 关键词: Myxomycophyta; Protista; biochemical evolution; bioinformatics; biological information processing; gene rearrangement; mathematical model; microinjections; mitochondria; polymerase chain reaction; posttranscriptional RNA processing; serial analysis of gene expression

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this research is to study unusual forms of biological information processing in protists, with emphasis on gene unscrambling in stichotrichous ciliates. The proposed research combines different approaches to this problem to address questions and test the hypotheses at the genomic, evolutionary, and developmental levels and time scales. The global aim is to use this model system to explore the mechanisms underlying complex rewriting systems in microbial eukaryotic genomes. Specific aims include: a) Probing the global distrbution of scrambled genes in Oxytricha trifallax, our model system for studies on a genomic scale, and the presence of scrambled orthologs in earlier diverging spirotrichous species for comparisons on an evolutionary time scale. b) Probing the populations of intermediates during the process of gene unscrambling on a developmental time scale. c) Functional experiments introducing foreign DNA or RNA into the developing macronucleus. d) Testing the role of small RNAs in macronuclear development in Oxytricha. e) Identification and testing of candidate genes involved in macronuclear development in Oxytricha. Computational analysis of both molecular evolutionary and direct experiment data-such as the time course of scrambled gene rearrangements-will provide a window into the complexity and rules of such biological computations, such as the sequence and molecular requirements for correct gene processing. The combination of molecular biology, functional genomics, computational biology, and evolutionary experiments in this proposal offers a unique opportunity to build a strong understanding of gene unscrambling in ciliates-a phenomenon that still mystifies the research community.

描述（由申请人提供）：这项研究的目的是研究生物学家中异常形式的生物信息处理形式，重点是基因在纤毛纤毛中解散。拟议的研究结合了解决问题的不同方法，以解决问题并测试基因组，进化和发育水平和时间尺度的假设。全球目的是使用此模型系统来探索微生物真核基因组中复杂重写系统的基础机制。具体目的包括：a）探测氧化三氧化三角体中炒基因的全球分散分散，我们的基因组量表研究模型系统以及在早期分化的螺旋种类中存在扰流的直系同源物，以在进化时尺度上进行比较。 b）在发展时间范围内基因解散过程中中间体的种群。 c）将外源DNA或RNA引入发展中的大核的功能实验。 d）测试小RNA在氧气中大核发展中的作用。 e）鉴定和测试涉及氧化三核发展的候选基因。分子进化和直接实验数据（例如炒基因重排的时间过程）的计算分析将为这种生物计算的复杂性和规则提供一个窗口，例如正确基因处理的序列和分子要求。该提案中的分子生物学，功能基因组学，计算生物学和进化实验的结合提供了一个独特的机会，可以建立对基因在纤毛中杂乱无章的强烈理解，这仍然使研究社区神秘。