The molecular genetics of resistance: surviving environmental stress

这项建议的重点是对包括微生物、昆虫和植物在内的各种模式生物适应环境压力的分子遗传分析。要研究的压力对本世纪的问题至关重要：温度变化和潜在的污染物。气候变化预计将增加冻融温度变化的数量，特别是在北方。因此，研究在这些条件下结合冰晶并帮助保护生物体的蛋白质是非常及时的。现代生物化学和基因技术现在使鉴定和表征这些蛋白质及其相互作用成为可能。事实上，我们对冰结合蛋白的替代气体水合物底物的发现已经引起了人们的极大兴趣，现在它正在打开一个新的研究领域。此外，我们还雄心勃勃地提出，通过“敲除”适当的基因，直接研究这些蛋白质对生物体生存的贡献。第二个新举措是，我们对最近大量消费品(包括食品和包装)中的人造纳米颗粒(NP)的扩散感到担忧，从而增加了NP污染的可能性。由于土壤污染在高纬度地区可能最为严重，因此将首先对北方土壤进行研究。此外，由于我们之前开发了一种新的昆虫出生缺陷模型，这个系统将被用来确定摄入NP是否会产生代际影响。这个跨学科的研究项目是专门为学生实习生设计的，每年都会支持6名毕业生、2名本科生、1名技术学院实习生、不同数量的暑期学生和1名研究助理的实验。其他受训人员也可以进入实验室，以激发他们对研究的兴趣，或帮助他们实现自己的研究目标。这种试验性活动将直接有助于培训高素质的加拿大青年。此外，拟议调查的结果将直接导致对对作为北方国家的加拿大特别重要的压力的了解，以及开始处理缓解努力所需的一些工具。

The focus of this proposal is the molecular genetic analysis of adaptation to environmental stress in a variety of model organisms including microbes, insects and plants. The stresses to be studied are critically important to problems of this century: temperature changes and potential pollutants. Climate change is predicted to increase the number of freeze-thaw temperature changes, particularly in the north. Thus a study of proteins that bind ice crystals and help protect organisms under these conditions is very timely. Modern biochemical and genetic technologies now make it possible to identify and characterize these proteins and their interactions. Indeed, our discoveries of alternative, gas hydrate substrates for ice-binding proteins has created such interest that it is now opening a new field of enquiry. As well, we are ambitiously proposing to directly examine the contribution of these proteins to an organism's survival by "knocking out" the appropriate genes. A second, new initiative has been prompted by our concern about the recent proliferation of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) for a host of consumer goods including foods and packaging, and thus the increased probability of NP pollution. Since soil contamination may be most acute at high latitudes, northern soils will be studied initially. In addition, since we have previously developed a novel birth defect model in insects, this system will be used to determine if NP ingestion can have inter-generational consequences. This interdisciplinary program of research has been specifically designed to be accessible and engaging for student trainees, with the experiments of 6 graduates, 2 undergraduates, a technical college trainee, variable numbers of summer students and a research assistant supported every year. Other trainees will also have access to the laboratory either to pique their interest in research or to assist with their own research goals. Such experimental activity will contribute directly to the training of highly qualified young Canadians. In addition, results of the proposed investigation will directly result in an increased understanding of stresses that are particularly important for Canada as a northern country, as well as some of the tools required to begin to address mitigation efforts.