Multifunctional Nature of Protostomian Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Like Molecules

进化在一定程度上是由控制生物体生理机能的分子功能的变化所驱动的。研究这些变化对于了解生物体为经受时间考验而发展的独特适应至关重要。有一种激素叫做促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH），它随时间的变化会影响进化。GnRH激活生殖，以确保所有脊椎动物物种的繁殖。在无脊椎动物中，GnRH被认为也能激活生殖，尽管缺乏对这种假设的一致支持。据推测，无脊椎动物的GnRH是不是普遍重要的生殖激活无脊椎动物。相反，无脊椎动物GnRH可能承担神经，运动和变形控制的广泛功能。该项目研究了GnRH和一种无脊椎动物-加利福尼亚海蛞蝓-的相关肽的非生殖功能。这些研究可能揭示GnRH的非生殖作用对无脊椎动物物种的生存至关重要。为了研究GnRH及其相关肽、脂肪运动激素的非生殖功能，将使用整体生物体研究与分子和生物化学技术相结合的方法。 研究者将致力于以下目的：1）检查GnRH在变态发育中的作用，2）对GnRH受体亚型进行体外功能分析，研究其分布，3）研究脂肪运动激素的功能。这项工作挑战了以脊椎动物为中心的观念，即无脊椎动物激素基本上与脊椎动物激素一样起作用。这一概念的转变对于推进我们对激素功能变化如何促进后生动物生存、适应和进化的认识是重要的。为了更广泛的影响，这个项目将为蔡博士提供以下机会：（1）本科生培训，（2）少数民族招聘，（3）跨部门和跨太平洋合作，（4）通过开发一个新颖的网站来传播信息，使用幽默和漫画来吸引K-12学生进行比较繁殖，以及（5）向中学生展示海蛞蝓的外展活动。 从这些研究中收集的数据将通过同行评议的出版物和无脊椎动物大脑平台http://invbrain.neuroinf.jp/modules/htmldocs/IVBPF/Top/index.html共享。

Evolution is driven, in part, by changes in the function of molecules that control the physiology of the organism. Studying these changes is crucial for understanding the unique adaptations developed by organisms to survive the test of time. One molecule whose change over time can influence evolution is a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH activates reproduction to ensure the propagation of all vertebrate species. In invertebrates, GnRH is assumed to also activate reproduction although consistent support for such an assumption is lacking. It is hypothesized that invertebrate GnRH is not universally important to reproductive activation in invertebrates. Instead, invertebrate GnRH may assume a wide range of functions in neural, motor, and metamorphic control. The project investigates non-reproductive function of GnRH and a related peptide in an invertebrate animal, the sea slug Aplysia californica. These studies may reveal non-reproductive roles of GnRH critical to the survival of invertebrate species. To study the non-reproductive function of GnRH and the related peptide, adipokinetic hormone, a combination of whole organism studies and molecular and biochemical techniques will be used. The investigators will address the following aims: 1) Examine the role of GnRH in metamorphic development, 2) Perform in vitro functional analysis of GnRH receptor isoforms, investigate their distribution, and 3) Investigate the function of adipokinetic hormone. The work challenges a vertebrate-centric notion that invertebrate hormones essentially function as their vertebrate counterparts. This conceptual shift is important for advancing our knowledge on how changes in hormone function contribute to the survival, adaptation, and evolution of metazoans. For broader impacts, this project will provide Dr. Tsai with opportunities for: (1) undergraduate training, (2) minority recruitment, (3) inter-departmental and trans-Pacific collaborations, (4) information dissemination via the development of a novel website that uses humor and cartoons to engage K-12 students in comparative reproduction, and (5) outreach activities to showcase sea slugs to middle school students. Data collected from these studies will be shared through peer-reviewed publications and the Invertebrate Brain Platform http://invbrain.neuroinf.jp/modules/htmldocs/IVBPF/Top/index.html.