Understanding phenotypic integration from perspectives of allocation, risk and aging

从分配、风险和老化的角度理解表型整合

• 批准号: 2356-2010
• 负责人: Rollo, David
• 金额: $ 2.55万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=449379
• 关键词: Understanding; phenotypic; integration; perspectives; allocation

A principle underlying how organisms evolve is that investments must be optimally balanced for successful living, but strong investments in one area require reductions in others. Functions (like growth and reproduction) do not simply compete for resources but allocation among them is a hormonally regulated "strategy" that adjusts to the environment. We are studying global regulation of functions using giant transgenic mice because greatly exaggerated growth allows us to see the relationship of other functions to growth and to each other. Of particular interest is the remarkable accelerated aging of these mice. Growth may divert resources from functions that forestall aging (e.g., pathways mediating stress resistance). We are learning more by developing dietary supplements that actually slow the aging rate of mice and insects. These allow us to see how slower aging is achieved. We recently found that insects and crustaceans recognize and avoid injured or dead relatives using particular odours. Such risk avoidance may be applied to control diverse pests. Moreover, crickets exposed to the odour of death not only altered their eyes, wings, and spines, they also lived longer. Food restriction is the only other known way of greatly extending longevity of most animals. However, benefits (including stress resistance) disappear if restricted animals can smell food. Thus, adjustments to risk of death or famine that increase life span both involve smell. Life extension is generally associated with elevated stress resistance so we plan to examine such adjustments in mammals and insects exposed to olfactory signals of death or signals indicating stress or immune activation in others. These studies of functional alterations in response to nutrition and risk have vast implications for how ecological populations and communities function.

生物体进化的一个基本原则是，为了成功的生活，投资必须达到最佳平衡，但在一个领域的大量投资需要减少其他领域的投资。功能（如生长和繁殖）并不简单地竞争资源，而是在它们之间进行分配，这是一种受系统调节的“策略”，可以根据环境进行调整。我们正在使用巨大的转基因小鼠研究功能的整体调节，因为大大夸大的生长使我们能够看到其他功能与生长以及相互之间的关系。特别令人感兴趣的是这些小鼠的显著加速衰老。增长可能会将资源从防止老化的功能（例如，介导应激抗性的途径）。我们正在通过开发膳食补充剂来了解更多，这些膳食补充剂实际上减缓了老鼠和昆虫的衰老速度。这使我们能够看到如何实现更慢的衰老。我们最近发现，昆虫和甲壳类动物利用特殊的气味来识别和避开受伤或死亡的亲属。这种风险规避可以应用于控制各种害虫。此外，暴露在死亡气味中的蟋蟀不仅改变了它们的眼睛、翅膀和脊椎，还活得更长。食物限制是另一种已知的能大大延长大多数动物寿命的方法。然而，如果受限制的动物能闻到食物的味道，那么这些好处（包括抗应激能力）就会消失。因此，调整死亡或饥荒的风险，延长寿命都涉及嗅觉。寿命延长通常与应激抵抗力的提高有关，因此我们计划在暴露于死亡嗅觉信号或其他指示应激或免疫激活的信号的哺乳动物和昆虫中检查这种调整。这些对营养和风险的功能改变的研究对生态种群和社区的功能有着巨大的影响。