Investigating the role of myoinhibitory peptide (MIP) signalling in marine larval settlement and metamorphosis. (ref: 4281)

在动物神经系统中，神经肽是变化的关键因素。这些肽能信号分子被用来调节大量的生物过程，包括繁殖、昼夜周期、行为、消化和排泄。变态过程是在相对较短的时间内发生的行为、生理和形态的巨大变化，是研究神经肽信号系统如何激活或抑制生物系统变化的一个很好的系统。在本项目中，我们旨在探讨两种不同的海洋无脊椎动物，多毛纲（nereid polychaete Platynereis dumerilii）和太平洋牡蛎长牡蛎（Pacific Oyster crasstrea gigas）幼虫沉降和变态的神经肽能调控。我们将重点关注一种已知能诱导Platynereis定居的神经肽，即肌抑制肽（MIP），最近发现它通过两种不同类型的受体发出信号，MIP门控离子通道（MGIC）和MIP激活的G蛋白偶联受体（MAG）。通过在Platynereis中建立MIP受体突变系，我们将研究每种受体类型对幼虫沉降过程的贡献。为了确定MIP在其他海洋无脊椎动物中对幼虫定居和变态的功能是否保守，我们将研究MIP及其受体在太平洋牡蛎幼虫发育过程中的表达动态，并测试合成MIP肽对牡蛎幼虫发育、行为和变态的影响。该项目的结果将有助于解释神经肽如何以及为什么通过多种受体类型发出信号，并将增加我们对神经肽信号传导进化的理解。我们还将评估是否可以在可持续水产养殖的背景下利用MIP信号来提高和同步幼虫招募和生长水平。通过这个博士项目，学生将获得以下方面的经验：(1)海洋无脊椎动物的培养、繁殖和发育，(2)使用CRISPR/Cas9系统进行基因组编辑，(3)分子生物学技术，包括原位杂交和免疫组织化学，(4)神经行为学和生理学（钙成像），以及(5)荧光共聚焦显微镜。学生还将受益于实验设计、数据分析、批判性思维、科学写作和沟通方面的培训。

In animal nervous systems, neuropeptides are key agents of change. These peptidergic signalling molecules are used to regulate a plethora of biological processes, including reproduction, circadian cycles, behaviour, digestion and excretion.The process of metamorphosis, where dramatic changes in behaviour, physiology and morphology occur within a relatively short time period, is an excellent system with which to study how neuropeptide signalling systems activate or inhibit change in a biological system. In this project, we aim to explore the neuropeptidergic regulation of larval settlement and metamorphosis in the larvae of two different marine invertebrates, the nereid polychaete Platynereis dumerilii, and the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas. We will focus on a neuropeptide known to induce settlement in Platynereis, myoinhibitory peptide (MIP), which was recently found to signal through two different types of receptor, the MIP-gated ion channel (MGIC) and the MIP-activated G protein-coupled receptor (MAG).Through the establishment of MIP receptor mutant lines in Platynereis, we will investigate the contributions of each receptor type to the larval settlement process. To establish whether the function of MIP in larval settlement and metamorphosis is conserved among other marine invertebrates, we will investigate the expression dynamics of MIP and its receptors during larval development in the Pacific Oyster and test the effect of synthetic MIP peptide on oyster larval development, behaviour and metamorphosis. Results from this project will help to explain how and why neuropeptides signal through multiple receptor types and will increase our understanding of the evolution of neuropeptide signalling. We will also assess whether MIP signalling can be exploited in the context of sustainable aquaculture to enhance and synchronize levels of larval recruitment and growth. Through this PhD project, the student will gain experience in (1) marine invertebrate culture, reproduction and development, (2) genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, (3) molecular biology techniques including in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, (4) neuroethology and physiology (calcium imaging), and (5) fluorescent confocal microscopy.The student will also benefit from training in experimental design, data analysis, critical thinking, scientific writing and communication.