Regulation of Proline Synthesis in Osmotic Response

这项拟议中的研究旨在阐明 细胞适应渗透压变化的机制 他们的外部环境。 工作重点将放在 脯氨酸积累对盐度响应调节 潮间带海洋甲壳类动物的变化， 遇到这样的环境变化。 以前的工作表明 生物体合成脯氨酸是为了 盐度增加;实验现在将确定代谢 实施这一调节的步骤和机制 实现了该调节。 虽然许多海洋生物 已知会在盐度升高时积累脯氨酸， 这一过程的代谢部位和调控机制 反应从未得到证实。 研究的第二个方面集中在以下方面的影响： 盐度响应的遗传变异。 以前的工作表明 一些参与合成游离氨基的酶 在盐度响应期间的酸是遗传可变的。 通过 研究不同酶基因型的生理实验 将决定这种遗传变异是否在 生物对不同盐度环境的适应。 该项目的潜在应用方面涉及使用 在特定的酶编码基因位点的遗传变异， 发展耐盐甲壳类动物用于水产养殖。

The proposed research seeks to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms by which cells acclimate to changes in the osmolarity of their external environment. The focus of the work will be on the regulation of proline accumulation in response to salinity change in an intertidal marine crustacean which frequently encounters such environmental changes. Previous work has shown that proline is synthesized by the organism only in response to salinity increases; experiments will now determine the metabolic step at which this regulation is exerted and the mechanism by which the regulation is achieved. While many marine organisms are known to accumulate proline in response to elevated salinity, the metabolic site and mechanism of the regulation of this response has never been demonstrated. A second aspect of the research focusses on the influence of genetic variation on salinity response. Previous work has shown that some of the enzymes involved in synthesizing free amino acids during salinity response are genetically variable. By studying the physiology of different enzyme genotypes experiments will determine if this genetic variation is important in the adaptation of organisms to different salinity environments. Potential applied aspects of the project involve the use of genetic variation at specific enzyme encoding gene loci for the development of salt tolerant crustaceans for aquaculture.