Adaptation of microorganisms to Arctic environments

微生物对北极环境的适应

• 批准号: 372218-2009
• 负责人: Lanoil, Brian
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=515268
• 关键词: Adaptation; microorganisms; Arctic; environments

The vast majority (>75%) of Earth's biosphere exists in permanently cold environments, including polar regions (14% of surface area) and deep ocean (90% by volume). However, the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to survive and thrive in these widespread environments are not well understood. These systems are being disproportionately affected by global climate change and the impact of these changes on their microbial inhabitants is unclear. Understanding how these microorganisms adapt to these conditions is critical for predicting and comprehending the effects of climate change on Northern ecosystems and will provide insight into fundamental molecular and evolutionary adaptation mechanisms. Furthermore, enzymes and microorganisms that are adapted to these conditions have been of great interest for industry and biotechnology. My research program will focus on examining the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms and their mechanisms of adaptation to these extreme environments. I will use advanced molecular biology and genomics based methods to obtain gene sequences from uncultured microorganisms from the Kaskawulsh Glacier in the Icefield Ranges of the St. Elias Mountains in southwest Yukon. One approach, stable isotope probing, will allow me, for the first time, to link the identity of the microorganisms to their environmental function. I will analyse gene sequences to determine microbial diversity, function, and evolutionary adaptations to the cold. These studies will provide insights into microbiology of extreme environments and adaptation to temperature extremes.

地球生物圈的绝大多数（>75%）存在于永久寒冷的环境中，包括极地地区（表面积的14%）和深海（体积的90%）。然而，生物体在这些广泛的环境中适应生存和繁荣的机制还没有得到很好的理解。 这些系统正受到全球气候变化的不成比例的影响，这些变化对其微生物居民的影响尚不清楚。了解这些微生物如何适应这些条件对于预测和理解气候变化对北方生态系统的影响至关重要，并将提供对基本分子和进化适应机制的深入了解。 此外，适应这些条件的酶和微生物已经引起了工业和生物技术的极大兴趣。 我的研究计划将侧重于研究微生物的多样性和动态及其适应这些极端环境的机制。 我将使用先进的分子生物学和基因组学为基础的方法，以获得基因序列从未培养的微生物从卡斯卡武尔什冰川在冰原山脉的圣伊莱亚斯山脉西南部育空地区。其中一种方法，稳定同位素探测，将使我第一次将微生物的身份与它们的环境功能联系起来。我将分析基因序列，以确定微生物多样性，功能和进化适应寒冷。这些研究将深入了解极端环境的微生物学和对极端温度的适应。