RUI: The molecular basis of a genetically accommodated larval color polyphenism

表型可塑性是指生物体因环境变化而产生不同形态、行为或代谢变化的能力。实验室和理论研究表明，表型可塑性可能在塑造物种进化轨迹中发挥重要作用，尽管其潜在机制尚不清楚。本项目将通过比较两种对温度反应不同的毛毛虫菌株，从而更好地理解表型可塑性的分子和生理基础：一种菌株在所有温度下都保持黑色，另一种在更高温度下变绿。黑毛虫的幼虫激素水平低于绿毛虫，该项目将阐明这种控制昆虫生长发育的重要激素的调控。确定表型可塑性的分子和生理基础对我们理解环境诱导的疾病、新性状的产生和物种保护具有重要意义。大部分拟议的研究将涉及来自韦尔斯利学院的女本科生研究人员，她们将接触到综合生物学的研究。这些学生将被鼓励出席国家会议，并在同行评议的期刊上发表他们的贡献。该奖项将支持以探究为基础的课堂学习，也将使本科生和高中生从代表性不足的群体中接触到科学研究。该研究的具体目标是确定人为选择的多表型进化的遗传机制。在本研究中，将比较单酚型烟草角虫（Manduca sexta）和多酚型烟草角虫（polyphenic）的神经内分泌复合体转录组，因为这两种菌株对幼激素产生的温度敏感性不同。一旦候选温度敏感基因被确定，面粉甲虫Tribolium castaneum和RNA干扰技术将被用于功能表征这些基因。该项目将揭示遗传调节的遗传基础，并确定隐藏的遗传变异的分子性质，这仍然知之甚少。这将导致对基因型-表型-环境相互作用的机制理解，并促进对幼年激素产生的分子和生理控制的理解。确定遗传调节和表型可塑性的分子性质对我们理解进化具有重要意义。这一发现也可能有助于确定新的少年激素调节因子，作为害虫管理的潜在目标。通过让高中生和大学生参与研究，并将教学与研究结合起来，该项目还有助于培养下一代科学家。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Phenotypic plasticity refers to the ability of an organism to generate distinct morphological, behavioral or metabolic changes in response to environmental changes. Laboratory and theoretical research has shown that phenotypic plasticity may play an important role in shaping the evolutionary trajectory of species, although the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. This project will lead to a better understanding of the molecular and physiological basis of phenotypic plasticity by comparing two strains of caterpillars that differ in their response to temperature: one strain remains black at all temperatures and another turns green at higher temperatures. Black caterpillars have lower levels of juvenile hormone than green caterpillars, and the project will elucidate the regulation of this important hormone that controls insect growth and development. Determining the molecular and physiological basis of phenotypic plasticity has important implications for our understanding of environmentally-induced diseases, generation of novel traits, and species conservation. Much of the proposed study will involve female undergraduate researchers from Wellesley College who will be exposed to research in integrative biology. These students will be encouraged to present at national meetings and publish their contribution in peer-reviewed journals. The award will support inquiry-based learning in the classroom, and will also expose undergraduate and high school students from underrepresented groups to scientific research.The specific goal of the proposed study is to determine the genetic mechanism underlying the evolution of an artificially selected polyphenism. In this study, the transcriptomes of the neuroendocrine complex in a monophenic strain of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, and the polyphenic strain will be compared, as these strains differ in the temperature sensitivity of juvenile hormone production. Once candidate temperature-sensitive genes are identified, the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum and RNA interference techniques will be used to functionally characterize these genes. The project will uncover the genetic basis of genetic accommodation and identify the molecular nature of hidden genetic variation, which remains poorly understood. It will lead to a mechanistic understanding of genotype-phenotype-environment interactions and advance understanding of molecular and physiological control of juvenile hormone production. Determining the molecular nature of genetic accommodation and phenotypic plasticity has implications for our understanding of evolution. The findings may also help identify novel regulators of juvenile hormone that could serve as potential targets for pest management. By involving high school and college students in the research and integrating teaching with research, the project also contributes to training the next generation of scientists.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.