Cellular and molecular mechanisms of ion transport by the insect excretory system

昆虫作为微小的动物，具有巨大的表面积和体积比，使得水分蒸发变得更加严重，如何入侵陆地环境的每一个利基，并避免干燥？答案是渗透调节。令人惊叹的进化适应使昆虫能够调节它们的渗透状态，这让研究人员困惑了几十年。通过我的研究，我将进一步了解昆虫的渗透调节和排泄，以及这一群体进化出的巨大多样性。这一知识不仅将揭示基本昆虫生物学的新方面，而且将有助于合理开发具有成本效益的、针对昆虫的和对环境无害的虫害控制措施。此外，我的研究项目将促进我们对上皮生理学的基本机制的理解。上皮生理学中最有趣的问题之一是细胞内稳态机制的性质，该机制调节离子转运体以维持跨上皮运输，同时保护胞浆成分。昆虫排泄上皮细胞是研究这些机制的理想模型，由于分子和生理方法的可用性，在脊椎动物模型中是不可能的，到目前为止仍然难以捉摸。这笔赠款的资金将支持对三名研究生和五名本科生进行分子生物学、高级电生理学和药理学方面的培训，为他们在学术界和工业领域的职业生涯做好准备。

How do insects, as tiny animals with large surface to volume ratios that makes water evaporation all the more serious, invade every niche of the terrestrial environment and avoid desiccation? The answer is osmoregulation. The amazing evolutionary adaptations that allow insect to regulate their osmotic state have puzzled researchers for decades. Through my research I will further our understanding of osmoregulation and excretion in insects and the enormous diversity that this group has evolved. This knowledge will uncover not only new aspects of basic insect biology but will facilitate the rational development of cost-effective, insect specific and environmentally benign pest control measures. In addition, my research project will advance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of epithelial physiology. One of the most interesting questions on epithelial physiology is the nature of the intracellular homeostatic mechanisms which regulate ion transporters to maintain transepithelial transport while defending cytosolic composition. Insect excretory epithelia are ideal models to study these mechanisms, that have remain elusive so far, thanks to the availability of molecular and physiological approaches not possible in vertebrate models. Funding from this grant will support the training of three graduate and five undergraduate students on molecular biology, advanced electrophysiology and pharmacology that will prepare them for careers in academia and in industry.