Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Governing Cnidarian/Algal Symbioses

这项研究将研究珊瑚等珊瑚类动物与其组织内的单细胞共生藻类之间的细胞和分子相互作用。Weis的团队将识别和表征寄主珊瑚和密切相关的海葵中的基因，这些基因之所以被打开，是因为它们与藻类共生。在寄主和共生藻类伙伴关系的初步建立期间，这些所谓共生基因的表达时间进程将在微小的幼虫珊瑚中进行探索，这些幼虫珊瑚通过摄取食物从环境中获取藻类。新的最先进的基因技术将被用来阻止共生基因产物的正确功能。这种方法将有助于确定共生基因在珊瑚/藻类共生生物的调节和维持中所起的作用。在每个生态系统中，都可以发现两个或多个无关生物之间的共生关系。这些关系涵盖了一系列的生活方式，从互惠到寄生，从胞外到胞内。其中最重要的海洋互惠关系是珊瑚和它们的藻类共生体之间的共生关系，它们共同构成了整个珊瑚礁生态系统的营养和结构基础。在宏观层面上，人们对珊瑚有很多了解，比如它们的全球分布和生态。然而，在这些共生体的启动、建立和维持期间发生的伙伴间沟通和调节的微尺度过程在很大程度上仍未被探索。缺乏对这些过程的基本知识，阻碍了理解珊瑚白化这一全球现象的努力，这是共生关系破裂的结果。广泛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。这项研究将采用多层次的方法来审查围绕珊瑚与其共生藻类之间共生的启动、建立和维持的事件。

This study will examine the cellular and molecular interactions between cnidarians, such as reef-building corals, and their single-celled symbiotic algae that reside within their tissues. Weis' group will identify and characterize genes in host corals and closely related anemones that are turned on specifically due to their symbiosis with algae. The time-course for the expression of these so-called symbiosis genes during the initial establishment of the cnidarian host and symbiotic algae partnership will be explored in microscopic larval corals that acquire their algae from their environment, by ingesting them with food. New state-of-the-art genetic techniques will be used to block the correct functioning of the symbiosis gene products. This approach will help determine the role that symbiosis genes play in the regulation and maintenance of coral/algal symbioses.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 both the trophic and structural 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 events surrounding the initiation, establishment and maintenance of symbioses between corals and their symbiotic algae.