Characterization of the Role of Alternative Oxidase in Marine Bacteria using Vibrio Fischeri as a Model System

细菌有各种各样的途径来产生它们生存和运作所需的能量。这种多样性有助于它们在不同环境中茁壮成长并对其产生影响。尽管如此，我们对细菌的代谢潜力如何影响海洋生态系统功能的了解还远远不够。本项目的主要研究目标是了解替代氧化酶（AOX）的功能如何在生理上对微生物有益。AOX是某些海洋细菌能量产生途径的一个组成部分，这些细菌在海洋环境中具有数字优势和/或重要的化学循环。由于能量产生与细菌生长和生存之间的基本联系，AOX最终可能与这些细菌对海洋生态系统功能的贡献有关。为了实现这一研究目标，基因可操纵的海洋细菌费氏弧菌将被用作遗传、分子和生化分析的模式生物。这些试验将验证AOX在各种生长条件下减少氧化应激和DNA损伤、维持代谢平衡和/或降低氧张力的假设。这些研究结果将为了解AOX在细菌中的功能益处提供重要的新信息，并为探索AOX在其他海洋细菌生理中的作用以及细菌AOX对海洋生态系统功能的影响奠定基础。此外，这些研究可能有助于了解这种有趣的蛋白质的进化史。更广泛的影响本研究项目将促进发现和理解，同时促进教学、培训和学习，为高中生、本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员提供积极参与研究活动的机会。将鼓励这些学生和研究人员通过参加地区、国家和国际会议并发表演讲来与科学界互动。此外，将在地区学院和大学举办讨论研究的外展研讨会，目的是发展与非博士学位授予机构的教师和学生的关系，以鼓励有才华的本科生考虑研究生学习。最后，将通过参加诺曼科学咖啡馆来完成对普通公众的科学推广，诺曼科学咖啡馆是一个促进科学家和没有受过正式科学培训的人之间非正式和对话互动的场所。

Intellectual MeritBacteria have an amazing diversity of pathways for generating the energy they need to live and function. This diversity contributes to their ability to thrive in and impact different environments. Despite this importance, our knowledge of how the metabolic potential of bacteria influences ocean ecosystem function is far from complete. The main research goal of this project is to understand how the function of alternative oxidase (AOX) physiologically benefits microorganisms. AOX is a component of energy generation pathways of certain marine bacteria which are numerically dominant and/or important for chemical cycling in ocean environments. Due to the fundamental connection between energy generation and bacterial growth and survival, AOX could ultimately be linked to the contribution of these bacteria to the functioning of the ocean ecosystem.Towards this research goal, the genetically manipulable marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri will be used as a model organism in genetic, molecular, and biochemical assays. These assays will test hypotheses that AOX functions to reduce oxidative stress and DNA damage, maintain metabolic balance, and/or reduce oxygen tensions under various growth conditions. The results of these studies will provide important new information related to the benefit of AOX function in bacteria, and lay the foundation for exploration of the role of AOX in the physiology of other marine bacteria and the influence of bacterial AOX on marine ecosystem function. In addition, these studies may contribute to understanding the evolutionary history of this interesting protein.Broader ImpactsThis research project will advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning by providing opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students and a postdoctoralresearcher to actively participate in the research activities. These students and researcher will be encouraged to interact with the scientific community by attending and presenting at regional, national, and international meetings. In addition, outreach seminars discussing the research will be presented at regional colleges and universities with the goal of developing relationships with faculty and students at non-PhD granting institutions to encourage talented undergraduates to consider graduate studies. Finally, scientific outreach to the general public will be accomplished through participation in the Norman Science Café, a venue that promotes informal and conversational interactions between scientists and people without formal scientific training.