MSB: Collaborative Research: Biological stoichiometry of microbes under severe P-limitation

所有生物体都需要碳（C），氮（N）和磷（P）等化学元素来生长和发育。P特别令人感兴趣，因为它在DNA和RNA等遗传物质的构建中特别重要，并且通常以有限的浓度存在于环境中。这个项目将调查决定元素配方的生物学规则（“化学计量”）的微生物，生长在严重缺磷的条件下，在一组独特的沙漠温泉在墨西哥。这项研究将使用实验室和现场实验，结合分子生物学和基因组学的尖端方法，研究磷供应的变化如何改变这些微生物的生态和进化动力学，并揭示它们如何科普这种必需化学元素的短缺。此外，这项研究将帮助我们了解人类对磷供应的改变，例如由肥料的低效使用或富含磷的污水的输入所驱动的改变，如何影响微生物生态系统。这也将有助于发现新的基因和遗传策略，生物体有效地利用P.这些发现可能是有用的农业和其他环境中日益关注的有限供应的经济可回收的P肥料生产。最后，该项目将制作双语科学教育产品，以加强亚利桑那州和全国K/12学生和公众的科学教育。

All organisms require chemical elements such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) for growth and development. P is of particular interest because it is especially important in construction of genetic material such as DNA and RNA and is often present in limiting concentrations in the environment. This project will investigate the biological rules that determine the elemental recipe ("stoichiometry") of microorganisms that grow under severely P deficient conditions in a set of unique desert springs in Mexico.This study will use both laboratory and field experiments, combined with cutting-edge methods of molecular biology and genomics, to investigate how changes in P supply alter the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of these microorganisms and to reveal how they cope with shortages of this essential chemical element. Furthermore, the study will help us understand how human alterations in P supply, such as those driven by inefficient use of fertilizer or by inputs of P-rich sewage, affect microbial ecosystems. It will also help in discovery of new genes and genetic strategies by which organisms efficiently use P. These discoveries may be useful for agriculture and other settings in light of growing concern about the finite supply of economically recoverable P for fertilizer production. Finally, the project will produce bi-lingual science education products that will enhance science education in Arizona and nationally for both K/12 students and the general public.