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

昆虫是最丰富的动物群体，约占已知动物物种的90%。虽然昆虫似乎在热带最丰富，但它们成功地利用了陆地环境的几乎每一个生态位，包括一些导致重大经济、农业或健康危机的生态位。为了应对大量的环境压力，这些不同的生态位所施加的，昆虫已经进化出复杂的系统，用于控制渗透和离子平衡，使大多数物种调节其血淋巴的组成和体积在一个狭窄的范围内。昆虫作为一种表面积与体积之比很大、水分蒸发更严重的微小动物，如何入侵陆地环境的每一个生态位，避免干燥？答案是监管。令人惊讶的进化适应使昆虫能够调节它们的渗透状态，这使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排泄调节和排泄，以及这一群体进化的巨大多样性。此外，我的研究项目将推进我们对上皮生理学基本机制的理解。上皮生理学上最有趣的问题之一是细胞内串扰机制的性质，该机制调节离子转运蛋白以维持跨上皮转运，同时保护胞质组成。昆虫排泄上皮细胞是研究这些机制的理想模型，迄今为止仍然是难以捉摸的。通过这项研究产生的知识将有助于改善加拿大人的生活，促进合理制定具有成本效益的、针对昆虫的和对环境无害的虫害控制措施，并提供有助于更好地了解健康状况的新知识。这笔赠款的资金将支持研究生和本科生在分子生物学，先进的电生理学和药理学方面的培训，为他们在学术界和工业界的职业生涯做好准备。

Insects are the most abundant animal group, representing roughly 90% of the known animal species. Although insects appear to be most abundant in the tropics, they have successfully exploited almost every ecological niche of the terrestrial environment including some that lead to major economic, agricultural or health crisis. In order to deal with the vast number of environmental stresses that these various ecological niches have imposed, insects have evolved sophisticated systems for the control of osmotic and ionic balance that allow most species to regulate their haemolymph composition and volume within a narrow range. 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. 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 cross-talk 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. The knowledge generated through this research will contribute to improve the life of Canadians by facilitating the rational development of cost-effective, insect specific and environmentally benign pest control measures and by providing new knowledge that may help better understand health conditions. Funding from this grant will support the training of graduate and undergraduate students on molecular biology, advanced electrophysiology and pharmacology that will prepare them for careers in academia and in industry.