microRNA dynamics in a freeze tolerant insect

本研究计划的主要目的是表征昆虫耐寒性的调控机制。低温生存需要严格控制细胞信号通路，该项目旨在更好地了解耐寒性菊蝇Eurosta solidaginis寒冷生存所需的分子相互作用网络。虽然在零度以下的温度下，代谢活动大大降低，但这种昆虫模型仍然能够通过抑制能量消耗过程和激活生存所需的选定信号通路来生存。尽管在这一领域的研究已经确定了多种信号级联反应和相关酶在寒冷中被调节，但最近发现的一种名为microRNAs （miRNAs）的小非编码rna家族却没有这样的数据。确定与寒冷相关的miRNA表达特征，表征耐冻昆虫miRNA的生物发生和转化过程，将构成本提案的不同研究目标。虽然这个项目提供了一个很好的机会来提高我们对这些昆虫在寒冷中生活的生化基础的认识，但在这个项目中确定的发现也适用于医学领域。了解昆虫如何在这些条件下生存在低温生物学中有潜在的应用，因为从这些模型中收集的信息可以为设计保护细胞免受低温保存过程中造成的损伤的策略提供重要线索。最终，对冷冻昆虫中miRNA表达和动态的表征将揭示低温存活的关键分子机制，并可作为改善器官长期保存的基础。

The primary objective of this research program is to characterize the regulatory mechanisms involved in insect cold tolerance. Survival at low temperatures requires tight control of cellular signaling pathways and this program seeks to better understand the network of molecular interactions necessary for cold survival in the freeze tolerant goldenrod gall fly Eurosta solidaginis. While metabolic activity is greatly reduced at sub-zero temperatures, this insect model is nonetheless capable of surviving this stress by depressing energy-consuming processes and activating selected signaling pathways required for survival. Even though research performed in this field has identified multiple signaling cascades and associated enzymes that are modulated in the cold, no such data exist regarding a family of recently discovered small noncoding RNAs named microRNAs (miRNAs). Identifying a cold-associated miRNA expression signature and characterizing the processes of miRNA biogenesis and turnover in freeze tolerant insects will make up the different research objectives of this proposal. While this program provides a great opportunity to improve our knowledge of the biochemical basis of life in the cold for these insects, the findings identified during this project also apply to the medical field. Understanding how insects survive these conditions has potential applications in cryobiology as information collected from these models can provide important clues in devising a strategy to protect cells against damage caused during cryopreservation. Ultimately, characterization of miRNA expression and dynamics in freezing insects will highlight key molecular mechanisms of cold survival and can serve as building blocks in the efforts deployed towards improving long-term organ storage preservation.