刺参在捕捞、运输及加工过程中常发生强烈的自溶现象，这一现象困扰着刺参的加工产业。目前对刺参自溶的研究主要集中于自溶酶的研究方向，对其深层机制研究亟待突破。本研究团队前期研究发现刺参自溶伴随着细胞凋亡和自噬现象。但对自噬机制如何影响刺参自溶进程目前仍然未知。本项目拟从自噬与凋亡关系和自噬TOR相关信号分子传导方向研究刺参自溶机制。首先采用组织染色和流式细胞术建立刺参自噬和凋亡检测模型，以了解两者对刺参自溶的作用；其次采用自噬和凋亡的抑制剂和诱导剂作用自溶的刺参，检测其影响效果，以研究自噬和凋亡在刺参自溶过程中的关系；最后通过对自噬TOR相关信号分子如TOR、Akt的磷酸化以及Atg6和 LC3B等相关信号分子的表达进行研究。通过他们之间表达的作用关系了解刺参自溶过程中相关信号分子的传导机制以及其在刺参自溶过程中的作用原理。以期从分子机制角度理解刺参自溶在加工过程中产生的困扰。

Sea cucumber would initiate the “melting” body wall phenomenon under certain circumstances, which is followed by death. This phenomenon is a major concern for sea cucumber production, particularly during transportation and processing. So far the sea cucumber melting phenomenon research is mainly focus on enzymology field and the mechanism study does not carried out. Previous study showed that this phenomenon is accompanied with the apoptosis and autophagy. Although the apoptosis during sea cucumber melting have got some result, the autophagy signal transduction pathway and its relationship with apoptosis have not been revealed. This project aimed to investigate the relationship of apoptosis and autophagy during sea cucumber melting and the TOR related signal transduction pathway in autophagy. Firstly, the immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry method would be adopt to establish a detection model of sea cucumber apoptosis and autophagy. This model would facility for the detection of their involving in sea cucumber melting. Secondly, the inhibitor and inducer of apoptosis and autophagy would used to study the relationship of apoptosis and autophagy in the event of melting. Thirdly, the TOR related signal transduction pathway in autophagy would be detected during sea cucumber melting to reveal the molecular mechanisms in this melting. The expressing of TOR, Akt, Atg6, LC3B, UVRAG and p53 during sea cucumber melting would help for the understanding of the signal transport mechanism in molecular level. We hope this project would help for the mechanism reveal of sea cucumber melting in food processing.