Physiological Mechanisms in Anuran Adaptation to Extreme Cold

乔恩·科斯坦佐 IOS-1022788无尾两栖动物适应极端寒冷的生理机制本项目探讨了抗冻性的机制，这是一种显着的适应性，通过这种适应性，选定的生物体可以通过耐受血液和其他组织的冻结和解冻而在极端寒冷中生存。 这些研究中的模式生物是林蛙（Rana sylvatica），这是一种北美两栖动物，其栖息地从南部皮埃蒙特北部到北极圈内。 尽管近30年前就有报道称该物种具有耐寒性，但直到最近才发现，适应亚北极气候的青蛙比来自更南方地区的青蛙更耐寒哈代。 研究人员将充分表征阿拉斯加内陆青蛙的抗冻性，将它们对冷冻的生理反应与俄亥俄州南部一个经过充分研究的种群的青蛙所表现出的反应进行比较。 生物化学和分子方法将用于实验室实验，旨在检测独特的适应性的冷冻保护剂系统和细胞膜，有助于提高阿拉斯加青蛙的冷冻耐受性。 这项研究的结果将提高对抗冻性的进化和生理机制的理解，抗冻性是多种生物采用的重要抗寒策略。他们还可能提出用于冷冻保存生物材料的新方法和工具，并提供对某些疾病状态的见解，如慢性胰腺炎和糖尿病/肥胖症。 此外，加强对两栖动物冬季生物学的了解可能有助于预测气候变化对其长期生存的影响。该项目将通过创建一个流动展览“大自然的冰冻奇迹”来提高科学和技术的理解，教育公众关于自然耐冻性的迷人适应，特别注意潜在的生物，化学和物理原理。 调查人员将与迈阿密大学赫夫纳动物学博物馆的工作人员密切合作，规划和实施一门专题课程，让来自不同学科的本科生参与设计展览。

Jon P. Costanzo IOS-1022788Physiological Mechanisms in Anuran Adaptation to Extreme Cold This project explores mechanisms of freeze tolerance, a remarkable adaptation by which select organisms can survive extreme cold by tolerating the freezing and thawing of their blood and other tissues. The model organism in these studies is the wood frog (Rana sylvatica), a North American amphibian whose habitat ranges from the Southern Piedmont north to within the Arctic Circle. Although freeze tolerance in this species was reported nearly 30 years ago, only recently was it discovered that frogs adapted to the subarctic climate are considerably more cold hardy than ones from more southerly locales. The investigators will characterize fully freeze tolerance in frogs from Interior Alaska, comparing their physiological responses to freezing with those exhibited by frogs from a well-studied population in southern Ohio. Biochemical and molecular approaches will be used in laboratory experiments designed to detect unique adaptations of the cryoprotectant system and cell membrane that contribute to enhanced freeze tolerance in the Alaskan frogs. The outcomes of this research will improve the understanding of the evolution and physiological mechanisms of freeze tolerance, an important cold-hardiness strategy employed by diverse organisms. They may also suggest new approaches and tools for cryopreserving biological materials and offer insights into certain disease states, such as chronic pancreatitis and diabetes/obesity. In addition, enhancing understanding the winter biology of amphibians may help predict consequences of climate change for their long-term survival. This project will enhance scientific and technological understanding by creating a traveling exhibit, "Nature's Frozen Marvels," to educate the general public about the fascinating adaptation of natural freeze tolerance, drawing special attention to the underlying biological, chemical, and physical principles. The investigators will work closely with the Hefner Zoology Museum staff at Miami University to plan and implement a special-topic course that will engage undergraduate students drawn from a variety of academic disciplines in designing the exhibit.