Functional and Structural Evolution of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

促性腺激素释放激素的功能和结构进化所有脊椎动物的成功繁殖都依赖于促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）的作用。 由于GnRH存在于从哺乳动物到被囊动物的各种动物中，因此假设GnRH可能已经存在于6.3亿年前的脊椎动物和无脊椎动物的祖先中。 如果得到证实，GnRH可能是最古老的激素之一，通过进化而持续存在。 因此，它的进化模式可以揭示一种重要的激素如何随着时间的推移改变其功能和结构。 蔡博士最近的数据显示，在加州海蛞蝓中存在一种类似GnRH的分子，证明GnRH在进化过程中很早就出现了。 该项目利用分子，细胞和整个生物体的方法相结合，以表征的受体为ap-GnRH（ap-GnRH），并了解ap-GnRH在海蛞蝓。 该项目还将使蔡博士能够培养对激素进化感兴趣的研究生和本科生，并加强与生态与进化生物学系其他学员的合作关系。 总之，这个项目将大大有助于我们了解进化选择压力如何驱动激素结构和功能的变化，以及这些变化如何使生物体更好地适应环境。

Functional and Structural Evolution of Gonadotropin-Releasing HormoneSuccessful reproduction in all vertebrates depends upon the action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Because GnRH is present in diverse animals ranging from mammals to tunicates, it is hypothesized that GnRH may have already been present 630 million years ago in an ancestor that gave rise to vertebrates and invertebrates. If proven, GnRH could be one of the most ancient hormones to persist through evolution. As such, its evolutionary pattern could reveal much about how an important hormone changed its function and structure over time. Dr. Tsai's recent data that a GnRH-like molecule is present in the sea slug, Aplysia californica, proved that GnRH arose very early during evolution. This project utilizes a combination of molecular, cellular and whole organism approaches to characterize the receptor for Aplysia GnRH (ap-GnRH) and to understand what ap-GnRH does in the sea slug. This project will also allow Dr. Tsai to train graduate and undergraduate students interested in hormone evolution and strengthen collaborative ties with other trainees in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. In sum, this project will contribute substantially to our understanding of how evolutionary selection pressures drive changes in hormone structures and functions, and how these changes allow the organism to adapt better to the environment.