US-India Cooperative Research: EcR and RXR Receptor Gene Function in Crustacea-Hormonal Signaling during Gonad Maturation and Early Development

该奖项支持美印合作研究项目，题为EcR和RXR受体基因在甲壳类动物性腺成熟和早期发育过程中的激素信号功能。俄克拉何马大学的美国PI David Durica和喀拉拉邦Kannur大学的Gopinathan Anilkumar将研究甲壳类动物的生殖功能，特别是控制卵黄发生和生殖周期的分子机制。该合作项目将为卵母细胞成熟和卵黄形成过程中潜在的表皮甾体靶组织提供重要信息，并将首次研究表皮甾体受体在早期甲壳类动物生命周期中的分布。研究范围：本研究将增加对甲壳类动物生殖生物学、胚胎和幼体发育的基础知识，为改进对虾养殖提供依据。这次合作将使印度研究人员在美国实验室获得更多的经验，在那里他将有机会接触到现代分子技术，并将有能力回答虾繁殖调节方面的基本问题。除了具有国际和培训价值外，这项研究还有望产生具有水产养殖实际应用潜力的重要基本信息。美国国家科学基金会综合生物学和神经科学部门和印度科学技术部在美国国家科学基金会/DST联合计划下共同支持该项目。

Description: This award supports a US-India cooperative research project entitled EcR and RXR Receptor Gene Function in Crustacea-Hormonal Signaling during Gonad Maturation and Early Development. US PI David Durica, University of Oklahoma and Gopinathan Anilkumar, Kannur University, Kerala will study reproductive function in Crustacea, particularly relating to the molecular mechanism controlling vitellogenesis and reproductive cycling. This collaborative project will provide important information on potential ecdysteroid target tissues during oocyte maturation and vitellogenesis, and will be the first to examine ecdysteroid receptor distribution in the early crustacean life cycle. Scope: This study will add to fundamental knowledge of crustacean reproductive biology as well as the embryonic and larval development, and will provide a basis for improving shrimp aquaculture. The collaboration will enable the Indian investigator to obtain more experience in the U.S. laboratory where he will have access to modern molecular technology and will be in a position to answer fundamental questions in the regulation of shrimp reproduction. In addition to its international and training value, this research promises to yield important basic information that has the potential for practical use in aquaculture. The NSF Division of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience and the Indian Department of Science & Technology jointly support this project under the NSF/DST joint program.