cis-Regulatory Architecture of Adaptive Radiation

自适应辐射的顺式监管架构

• 批准号: 1354318
• 负责人: Robert Reed
• 金额: $ 74万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-05-01 至 2017-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1354318&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: cis; Regulatory; Architecture; Adaptive; Radiation

DNA sequences that act to determine where, when, and to what degree genes are expressed are called cis-regulatory elements. It is estimated that these elements outnumber genes over 20 to 1 in the human genome, and it is becoming increasingly clear that much of the morphological diversity we see in nature is related to variation in these elements. This is true for both complex and simple traits, for variation within and between populations, and for changes at micro- and macro-evolutionary time scales. Although variation in the traits of organisms often traces to these elements within the genome, they remain poorly understood relative to protein-coding sequences of the genome. This projects seeks to gain a better understanding of how regulatory elements can drive the adaptation of complex traits. Specifically, the research will characterize the cis-regulatory architecture driving adaptive evolution of wing pattern coloration in Heliconius butterflies, an organismal system that has emerged as an important model for understanding the genomic dynamics of adaptation.This research will address several fundamental questions including: (1) How are regulatory elements structured around genes that control rapidly evolving, highly variable traits? (2) How does regulatory element structure and activity evolve during the adaptive radiation of complex morphologies? (3) To what degree is similarity in morphology controlled by similarity of regulatory elements? This work will also help develop and adapt important new functional genomics techniques to facilitate the broader study of cis-regulatory elements across species. This project will also engage the public through the production of an IMAX documentary film that will incorporate stop action animations of butterfly wing development.

起作用以确定在何处，何时和在何种程度表达的DNA序列称为顺式调节元件。据估计，这些元素在人类基因组中的人数超过20至1的基因，并且越来越清楚，我们在本质上看到的许多形态学多样性与这些元素的变化有关。对于复杂和简单的特征，人群之间和人群之间的变化以及微观和宏观进化的时间尺度上的变化都是正确的。尽管生物体特征的变化通常会追溯到基因组中的这些元素，但相对于基因组的蛋白质编码序列，它们的理解仍然很差。该项目试图更好地了解监管要素如何推动复杂特征的适应。具体而言，这项研究将表征顺式调节性结构推动Heliconius Butterflies中机翼模式色彩的适应性演变，Heliconius Butterflies是一种有机体系统，已成为理解适应基因组动力学的重要模型。这项研究将解决几个基本问​​题，包括：（1）（1）如何在基因围绕基因进行高度快速浮现的基因构造，这是如何解决的，该研究是如何处理的？ （2）在复杂形态的自适应辐射过程中，调节元件的结构和活性如何发展？ （3）形态学的相似性在多大程度上受调节元素的相似性控制？这项工作还将有助于开发和适应重要的新功能基因组学技术，以促进对跨物种的顺式调节元素进行更广泛的研究。 该项目还将通过制作IMAX纪录片的制作来吸引公众，该电影将结合蝴蝶翼开发的停止动作动画。