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

在动物神经系统中，神经肽是改变的关键因素。这些多肽能信号分子被用来调节过多的生物过程，包括繁殖、昼夜循环、行为、消化和排泄。变态过程在相对较短的时间内发生行为、生理和形态的剧烈变化，是研究神经肽信号系统如何激活或抑制生物系统变化的极好系统。在这个项目中，我们旨在探索两种不同海洋无脊椎动物--神经性多毛类Platynereis umerilii和太平洋牡蛎Crassostrea Gigas幼虫的神经肽对幼虫定居和变态的调节。通过建立扁平线虫MIP受体突变系，我们将重点研究最近发现的通过两种不同类型的受体--MIP门控离子通道(MGIC)和MIP激活的G蛋白偶联受体(MAG)--来传递信号的一种神经肽--肌肉抑制肽(MIP)。为了确定MIP在幼体定居和变态中的作用是否在其他海洋无脊椎动物中是保守的，我们将研究MIP及其受体在太平洋牡蛎幼体发育过程中的表达动态，并测试合成的MIP多肽对牡蛎幼体发育、行为和变态的影响。这个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传递信号，并将增加我们对神经肽信号传递的进化的理解。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的招募和生长水平。通过这个博士项目，学生将获得(1)海洋无脊椎动物培养、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)，(5)荧光共聚焦显微镜的经验。学生还将从实验设计、数据分析、批判性思维、科学写作和交流方面的培训中受益。

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.