Examination of the Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Establishment of Cnidarian-Algal Symbioses

Weis 9728405 两个或两个以上不相关的生物体之间的共生关系在每个生态系统中都存在。这些关系包括一系列的生活方式，从互利到寄生，从细胞外到细胞内。最重要的海洋互惠关系是珊瑚与其藻类共生体之间的互惠关系，它们共同构成整个珊瑚礁生态系统的基础。人们对珊瑚在宏观尺度上的了解很多，例如它们的全球分布和生态。然而，在启动，建立和维持这些共生过程中发生的合作伙伴间的沟通和监管的微观过程仍然在很大程度上未被探索。由于缺乏对这些过程的基本知识，人们难以理解珊瑚白化这一全球现象，这是共生关系破裂的结果。 大范围的白化导致珊瑚死亡和珊瑚礁退化，被认为是一个严重的环境威胁。这项研究将采取多层次的方法来检查珊瑚和共生藻类之间共生关系开始的初始事件。研究员将研究珊瑚在自然生命周期中何时及如何建立共生关系。第二，研究员会调查建立伙伴关系对宿主珊瑚的生物化学和分子生物学的影响。

Weis 9728405 Symbiotic associations between two or more unrelated organisms are found throughout every ecosystem. These relationships encompass a spectrum of lifestyles, from mutualistic to parasitic, and from extracellular to intracellular. Among the most significant marine mutualisms are those between corals and their algal symbionts, which together form the foundation of the entire coral reef ecosystem. A great deal is known about corals on a macroscale level, such as their global distribution and ecology. However, microscale processes of inter-partner communication and regulation that occur during the initiation, establishment and maintenance of these symbioses remain largely unexplored. A lack of basic knowledge of these processes has hampered efforts to understand the global phenomenon of coral bleaching, which is the result of the breakdown of the symbiosis. Widespread bleaching, which leads to coral death and reef degradation, is considered a serious environmental threat. This study will take a multileveled approach to the examination of the initial events surrounding the onset of symbiosis between corals and their symbiotic algae. The PIs will examine when and how the symbiosis is established during the natural life cycle of corals. Secondly, the PIs will investigate the effects that the establishment of the partnership has on the biochemistry and molecular biology of the host coral.