RUI: Characterization of Salinity Regulated Genes in the Haloarchaeon, Haloferax Volcanii

这个项目旨在更好地了解适应高盐度所需的基因和分子过程，这些基因和分子过程是嗜盐微生物Haloferax Volcanii适应高盐度所必需的。属于古生界的极端嗜盐菌生长需要的盐浓度范围从~1.5M到5.2M的氯化钠，上限超过海水盐度的十倍。嗜盐生物在死海和大盐湖等恶劣环境中被发现，那里高浓度的盐阻止了几乎所有其他已知生物的生长。H.Volcanii是研究环境盐度变化对基因表达影响的模式生物，因为这种生物在广泛的盐浓度范围内生长，大约在12%到30%的氯化钠之间。美国国家科学基金会之前的资助支持了探索性研究，既分离了火山杆菌对盐敏感的突变体，又开始了使用分子方法表征参与高盐调控的基因的初步研究。该项目将继续以以前的调查结果为基础，进行更深入的分析。本研究的主要目的是：1)确定引起火山杆菌突变株对盐敏感的表型的基因；2)开始研究控制盐度介导的基因调控的调控元件；3)鉴定和鉴定在高盐生长条件下可能表达的调控基因的靶标。该项目的更广泛影响既将通过本科教学和培训促进发现，也将扩大未被充分代表的少数民族接触科学的机会。预计所有参与这项研究的学生都将在分子生物学、微生物学和遗传学的研究中获得宝贵的经验，这反过来将为他们未来的科学职业生涯做好更好的准备。

This project aims to better understand the genes and molecular processes necessary for adaptation to high salinities in the halophilic, or irsalt-lovinglo microbe, Haloferax volcanii. The extreme halophiles belonging to the domain Archaea require salt concentrations for growth that range from ~1.5 M up to 5.2 M NaCl, an upper limit in excess of ten times the salinity of seawater. Halophiles are found in such hostile environments as the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake, where high concentrations of salt preclude the growth of almost all other known organisms. H. volcanii is a model organism for studying the effects of changes in environmental salinity on gene expression, as this organism grows over a wide range of salt concentrations, between approximately 12% to 30% NaCl. Previous funding by the NSF supported exploratory research to both isolate H. volcanii salt-sensitive mutants and begin preliminary research to characterize genes involved in hypersaline regulation using molecular approaches. This project will continue to build upon previous findings to perform more in-depth analyses. The major objectives of this research are to: 1) identify genes involved in causing the salt-sensitive phenotype of the H. volcanii mutant strains; 2) begin examining the regulatory elements involved in controlling salinity-mediated gene regulation; and 3) characterize and identify the targets of a putative regulatory gene found to be expressed under high salt growth conditions. The broader impacts of this project will both advance discovery through undergraduate teaching and training and broaden the exposure to science of underrepresented minorities. It is anticipated that all of the students who participate in this research will gain valuable experience in the study of molecular biology, microbiology, and genetics that in turn will better prepare them for future careers in science.