DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of a novel phenotypes: The role of generalized enzyme function in adaptation

论文研究：新表型的进化：广义酶功能在适应中的作用

• 批准号: 1011167
• 负责人: Thomas Mitchell-Olds
• 金额: $ 1.47万
• 依托单位: Duke University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-06-01 至 2013-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1011167&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Evolution; novel; phenotypes

Within a cell there are thousands of complex biochemical interactions, many of which are mediated by very specific enzymes. The evolution of complex biochemical interactions could follow a stepwise process, with each new elaboration of an enzyme being optimized by natural selection. However, very little is known about how these complex interactions have evolved and what evolutionary forces shape them. By examining the changing structures of an enzyme within the context of the phylogenetic tree of the organisms that have the different forms, one can trace the evolutionary history of a novel biochemical pathway and determine when a particular functional elaboration took place. Specifically, it is possible to use the variations in the present-day biochemical pathway to infer the DNA sequence underlying the extinct ancestral pathway. The DNA information can be used to infer the ancestral pathway and thus determine its function and understand how evolution acted on it to create the current pathway. Using plants of the family Brassicaceae (which includes crops like broccoli, cabbage, and canola), the PIs will examine the evolution of the biochemical pathway for forming a chemical that is crucial to deterring herbivores. This grant will also support the graduate student's outreach work at local elementary schools and the mentoring of 8th grade girls. International collaborations will be strengthened during this research. Finally, the anti-herbivore compounds made by this biochemical pathway are thought to play a role in cancer prevention, so the basic research described here could have medical as well as agricultural importance.

细胞内有数千种复杂的生化相互作用，其中许多是由非常特殊的酶介导的。复杂的生化相互作用的进化可能遵循一个逐步的过程，每一种新的酶的精制都通过自然选择进行优化。然而，人们对这些复杂的相互作用是如何进化的以及是什么进化力量塑造了它们知之甚少。通过在具有不同形式的生物体的系统发育树的背景下检查酶的结构变化，人们可以追踪一种新的生化途径的进化历史，并确定何时发生特定的功能阐述。具体来说，可以利用当今生化途径的变化来推断已灭绝的祖先途径背后的DNA序列。 DNA 信息可用于推断祖先途径，从而确定其功能并了解进化如何作用于它以创建当前途径。 PI 将使用十字花科植物（包括西兰花、卷心菜和油菜等作物）来研究形成对阻止食草动物至关重要的化学物质的生化途径的演变。这笔赠款还将支持研究生在当地小学的外展工作以及对八年级女生的指导。本研究期间将加强国际合作。最后，这种生化途径产生的抗草食动物化合物被认为在癌症预防中发挥作用，因此这里描述的基础研究可能具有医学和农业重要性。