Characterization of Aphid Nutrient Amino Acid Transporters with Focus on the Symbiotic Interface

蚜虫营养氨基酸转运体的表征——聚焦于共生界面人类与肠道菌群之间的共生，以及恰加斯病的昆虫媒介及其专门细菌之间的共生，在自然界中无处不在，影响着人类健康、生物多样性和农业。以哺乳动物的血液或植物的提取物为食的昆虫在依赖与细菌的亲密共生关系中团结一致，这些细菌在营养上补偿它们的宿主。虽然这些共生的营养基础已经被很好地理解，但介导共生伙伴之间密切相互作用的过程和结构一直被忽视，并且仍然没有被表征。本项目旨在从功能上表征蚜虫及其细菌共生体蚜虫之间氨基酸交换的过程和结构。蚜虫寄生在蚜虫细菌细胞的膜结合区室内。细菌细胞的膜和特殊的隔室对氨基酸交换构成挑战，而氨基酸交换对蚜虫的生存至关重要。具体来说，该项目侧重于研究在蚜虫/布氏界面上跨膜运输氨基酸的分子。研究人员将通过实验确定氨基酸转运体的转运能力，并使用显微镜确定这些转运体的发现位置。研究和教育目标将融合在氨基酸转运基因表达变化的测量中，以响应膳食氨基酸供应，为多达96名本科生提供基于探究的研究培训。总的来说，这项工作有利于所有昆虫系统的基因组研究，并为一名研究生和一名早期研究人员提供指导和研究培训。该项目将是第一个功能表征昆虫营养共生界面操作的过程和结构的项目。重要的是，了解昆虫如何与其共生体相互作用，有可能促进对人类和植物疾病的昆虫媒介进行有针对性的环境安全控制。

Alexandra C. C. WilsonProposal # IOS-1121847Characterization of Aphid Nutrient Amino Acid Transporters with Focus on theSymbiotic InterfaceSymbioses such as those between humans and their gut flora and the insect vector ofChagas disease and its obligate bacterium are ubiquitous in nature impacting humanhealth, biodiversity and agriculture. Insects feeding on mammalian blood or plant sapare united in their dependence on intimate symbioses with bacteria that nutritionallycompensate their hosts. While the nutritional bases of these symbioses are wellunderstood, the processes and structures that mediate the intimate interactions betweensymbiotic partners have been neglected and remain uncharacterized. This project aimsto functionally characterize the processes and structures that mediate amino acidexchange between aphids and their bacterial symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Buchnera livewithin membrane-bound compartments inside aphid bacteriocyte cells. The membranesof the bacteriocytes and the specialized compartments present a challenge to amino acidexchange, a process vital to aphid survival. Specifically, this project focuses on studyingthe molecules that transport amino acids across membranes at the aphid/Buchnerainterface. The investigators will experimentally determine the transport capability ofamino acid transporters and use microscopy to determine where these transporters arefound. Research and educational goals will merge in measurement of changes inexpression of amino acid transporter genes in response to dietary amino acid supplyproviding inquiry-based research training for up to 96 undergraduates. Broadly thiswork benefits genomic studies in all insect systems and additionally provides mentoringand research training for one graduate student and one early-career researcher. Thisproject will be the first to functionally characterize the processes and structuresoperating at the interface of an insect nutritional symbiosis. Importantly, understandinghow insects interact with their symbionts has the potential to facilitate development oftargeted environmentally safe control of insect vectors of human and plant disease.