Neuroendocrine systems of cnidarians: characterization and roles in reproduction and development

刺胞动物的神经内分泌系统：特征及其在生殖和发育中的作用

• 批准号: 6447-2006
• 负责人: Anctil, Michel
• 金额: $ 3.61万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=363446
• 关键词: Neuroendocrine; systems; cnidarians; characterization; roles

My research program aims at understanding the functional organization and molecular basis of neuro-endocrine pathways in cnidarians. As cnidarians are the lowest invertebrates in which nervous systems were identified, this research offers opportunities to compare neurotransmitter/neurohormone systems in metazoans and to test hypotheses of evolutionary conservation of chemical signaling functions. Our experimental model of choice is the sea pansy (Renilla koellikeri), an octocorallian anthozoan which is easily maintained in the laboratory and lends itself readily to experimental manipulation. An hexacorallian, the staghorn Acropora millepora, will also be used through a collaborative effort. The main objectives of this proposal are: (1) To pursue our current efforts to clone and express products of genes encoding neurally related signaling molecules (amine transporters and biosynthesis enzymes, G protein-coupled receptors) in order to understand the early evolution of these important participants in neurotransmitter/neurohormone signaling. (2) To pursue our investigations on the neuroendocrinology of reproduction and development in both the sea pansy and in corals, looking into the possible involvement of sex steroids, retinoic acid and other chemical regulators and mapping the expression of putative neural regulatory genes during development and sexual maturation. (3) To investigate the effects of signaling molecules on re-differentiating sea pansy neurons in culture and the expression of signaling markers during neuronal differentiation. These investigations are expected to contribute significant advances in the field of cnidarian neuro-endocrinology, especially regarding the phylogenetic ancestry of neuro-endocrine mediators. In addition, an understanding of the neuro-endocrinological basis of reproduction control and development has potential fallouts in the management of ecologically important cnidarians such as reef corals.

我的研究项目旨在了解刺胞动物神经内分泌通路的功能组织和分子基础。由于刺胞动物是最低的无脊椎动物，其中神经系统被确定，这项研究提供了机会，比较后生动物的神经递质/神经激素系统，并测试化学信号功能的进化保守的假设。我们选择的实验模型是海三色堇（Renilla koellikeri），一种珊瑚虫珊瑚虫，很容易在实验室中维持，并很容易进行实验操作。还将通过合作努力使用一种六珊瑚，鹿角鹿角珊瑚。本研究的主要目的是：（1）继续我们目前的努力，克隆和表达编码神经相关信号分子（胺转运蛋白和生物合成酶，G蛋白偶联受体）的基因产物，以了解这些重要参与者在神经递质/神经激素信号转导的早期进化。(2)为了继续我们的调查，生殖和发展的神经内分泌学在海三色堇和珊瑚，寻找性类固醇，视黄酸和其他化学调节剂的可能参与和映射发育和性成熟过程中假定的神经调节基因的表达。(3)探讨不同信号分子对三色堇神经元再分化的影响及神经元分化过程中信号分子的表达。这些调查有望在刺胞动物神经内分泌学领域取得重大进展，特别是关于神经内分泌介质的系统发育祖先。此外，生殖控制和发展的神经内分泌基础的理解有潜在的影响，在生态上重要的刺胞动物，如珊瑚礁的管理。