CAREER: Identification and Characterization of Genes Involved in Asexual Reproduction in Filamentous Fungi

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。绝大多数丝状真菌通过形成无性孢子（分生孢子）进行无性繁殖。为了产生分生孢子，真菌必须经历一个确定的形态发育程序，这可能需要许多个体基因和信号转导途径的协调努力。值得注意的是，在丝状真菌中，无性发育的遗传基础知之甚少。本项目的科学目标是鉴定和表征稻谷镰刀菌无性繁殖的关键基因，稻谷镰刀菌是一种具有全球意义的真菌植物病原体，它能够引起谷物作物的毁灭性疾病，然后被有害的真菌毒素污染。广泛的基因组资源可用于这种生物体，再加上它的可追溯性，使得旨在调查尚不清楚的机制的实验成为整合本科教育的现实和引人注目的选择。基因组工具的进步使得在全基因组水平上分析基因表达成为可能。在科克学院建立真菌基因组学项目将加强现有的合作，并促进新伙伴关系的持续发展。该项目将为科克学院的学生提供机会：(1)开发创新的筛选方法来鉴定禾本科真菌的发育突变体；(2)在分子水平上鉴定已鉴定的突变体；(3)应用比较基因组学工具来鉴定其他生物中目标基因的潜在同源基因；(4)设计实验来验证已鉴定的影响丝状真菌无性发育的基因的参与。为了更好地了解突变体中受影响的基因，将分离RNA并用于询问F. graminearum Affymetrix基因芯片。Coker的学生将编制一个全面的数据集，以了解无性发育过程中的基因表达，并比较发育突变体与控制菌株之间的基因表达模式。从基因表达数据推断可能导致发现参与调控真菌发育途径的特定基因。更广泛的影响：该项目的长期目标是在本科生参与的基础上发展真菌基因组学的研究计划。为了实现这一目标，我们将与研究密集型机构的教师进行广泛的合作，这将有助于提高科克学院学生的教育经验，并增加研究成果。独立的实验室研究对有志成为科学家、医生和科学教育者的学生至关重要。科克学院开展的研究项目侧重于丝状真菌的基因发现，特别强调阐明控制重要植物病原体发育的遗传机制。多种真菌模型系统的出现与真菌基因组学的最新进展相结合，极大地提高了将这些生物纳入本科研究计划的可行性和益处。参与研究可以激发本科生对科学的热情，并为他们未来从事研究和教育工作奠定知识和技术基础。该项目将为本科生参与研究创造新的角色，同时打破阻碍本科院校与主要研究型大学之间合作的障碍。研究目标的实现将涉及一种创新的方法来指导从事独立项目的本科生。为此，将制定一个多机构指导计划，包括一个由教师组成的团队，指导每个学生的研究项目。促进师友计划所需的技术和协调的合理应用包括在科克学院的课程中实施客座讲座部分。在分子生物学、生物化学、基因组学和宿主-寄生虫相互作用等各个学科具有专业知识的研究机构的合作者将安排就相关主题发言，并通过视频会议平台传送到Coker教室。该项目将加强科克学院的生物学课程，使学生有机会获得研究经验，并为本科生提供更多机会，与研究生、博士后研究人员和合作机构的教职员工一起获得宝贵的经验。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The vast majority of filamentous fungi propagate clonally through the formation of asexual spores (conidia). To produce conidia, fungi must undergo a defined program of morphological development, which presumably requires the coordinated efforts of many individual genes and signal transduction pathways. Remarkably, the genetic underpinnings of asexual development are poorly understood in filamentous fungi. The scientific objective of this project is to identify and characterize genes critical for asexual reproduction in Fusarium graminearum, a fungal plant pathogen with global significance due to its ability to cause devastating diseases of cereal crops followed by contamination with harmful mycotoxins. The extensive genomic resources available for this organism coupled with its tractability have made experiments designed to investigate poorly understood mechanisms a realistic and compelling choice for integration into undergraduate education. Advances in genomic tools have permitted analysis of gene expression at the whole-genome level. Instituting a fungal genomics program at Coker College will strengthen existing collaborations and foster the continued development of new partnerships. This project will provide students at Coker College the opportunity to (1) Develop innovative screens to identify developmental mutants of F. graminearum, (2) Characterize identified mutants at the molecular level, (3) Apply comparative genomics tools to identify potential orthologs of target genes in other organisms, and (4) Design experiments to validate the involvement of genes identified that impact asexual development in filamentous fungi. To better understand the genes affected in the mutants identified, RNA will be isolated and used to interrogate the F. graminearum Affymetrix GeneChip. Students at Coker will compile a comprehensive data set for understanding gene expression during asexual development and compare gene expression patterns between developmental mutants identified to control strains. Inference from gene expression data may lead to the discovery of specific genes involved in regulating developmental pathways controlling fungal development. Broader Impacts: The long-term goal of this project is to develop a research program in fungal genomics built on undergraduate participation. To reach this goal, extensive collaborations will be formed with faculty at research-intensive institutions that will serve to enhance educational experiences for Coker College students and to increase research output. Independent laboratory research is essential for students aspiring to become scientists, medical doctors and science educators. The research project developed at Coker College focuses on gene discovery in filamentous fungi, with particular emphasis on elucidating the genetic mechanisms controlling development of important plant pathogens. The emergence of multiple fungal model systems combined with recent advances in fungal genomics has greatly enhanced the feasibility and benefits of incorporating these organisms into undergraduate research programs. Participation in research stimulates enthusiasm for science in undergraduates, and provides them a foundation of knowledge and techniques for future careers in research and education. This project will forge new roles for undergraduate involvement in research while tearing down barriers that inhibit collaborations between undergraduate institutions and major research universities. Achievement of research goals will involve an innovative approach to mentor undergraduate students undertaking independent projects. To this end, a multi-institutional mentorship program will be developed involving a team of faculty members formed to guide each student's research project. A logical application of the technology and coordination required to facilitate the mentorship program involves implementing a guest lecture component to the curriculum at Coker College. Collaborators from research institutions with specific expertise in various disciplines of molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics, and host-parasite interactions will be scheduled to speak on a relevant topic and transmitted to the Coker classroom through a video-conferencing platform. The project will enhance the biology curriculum at Coker College, make research experiences available to students who would not otherwise have the opportunity, and provide expanded opportunities for undergraduate students to gain valuable experience working with graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members at collaborating institutions.