DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Why poison frogs don't poison themselves: phylogenetic origins and consequences of autoresistance

论文研究：为什么毒蛙不会毒害自己：系统发育起源和自体抵抗的后果

基本信息

批准号：
1404409
负责人：
David Cannatella
金额：
$ 2万
依托单位：
University of Texas at Austin
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：
2014-07-01 至 2017-06-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1404409&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
DISSERTATION RESEARCH Why poison frogs

项目摘要

Poison frogs (family Dendrobatidae) are well known for their bright colors and for the toxins (alkaloids) contained in their skin. In fact, some of the most powerful natural toxins known are found in dendrobatid frogs. Because these toxins interfere with the function of ion channels (proteins in cell membranes that control muscle contraction and sensory systems), predators exposed to poison frog alkaloids may experience numbness, slowed muscle response, or even respiratory failure at high doses. Predators of poison frogs learn to associate the frog's bright color with distastefulness and toxicity, and then avoid them as prey items. How is that poison frogs are not poisoned by their own toxins, and how could such a complex system evolve? One hypothesis is that genetic changes in ion channels within poison frogs prevent the adverse effects of alkaloids and thus prevent self-toxicity, and that this pre-adaptation enabled the evolution of the overall predatory defense system. This project will utilize new methods of DNA analysis and physiological tests of ion channel function in toxic and non-toxic poison frogs to reveal the evolutionary basis of toxin resistance in this group. In a broader context, this research will contribute to understanding the general effects of toxins and how resistance to these toxins can evolve. It will also strengthen international collaborations between scientists in Ecuador and the United States, and train several students in field and laboratory work.

毒蛙（家庭树突状科）以其鲜艳的色彩和皮肤中包含的毒素（生物碱）而闻名。实际上，在树突青蛙中发现了一些最有力的天然毒素。由于这些毒素会干扰离子通道的功能（控制肌肉收缩和感觉系统的细胞膜中的蛋白质），因此暴露于毒蛙生物碱的捕食者可能会出现麻木，肌肉反应缓慢，甚至在高剂量下呼吸衰竭。毒蛙的捕食者学会将青蛙的鲜艳色彩与令人讨厌和毒性联系起来，然后避免它们作为猎物。这种毒蛙如何不被自己的毒素毒化，这种复杂的系统如何发展？一种假设是，毒蛙中离子通道的遗传变化阻止了生物碱的不利影响，从而防止了自我激素，并且这种预先适应使整体掠夺性防御系统的演变能够演变。该项目将利用毒性和非毒性毒药中离子通道功能的DNA分析和生理测试的新方法来揭示该组中毒素抗性的进化基础。在更广泛的背景下，这项研究将有助于理解毒素的一般影响以及对这些毒素的抗性如何发展。它还将加强厄瓜多尔和美国科学家之间的国际合作，并在现场和实验室工作中培训几名学生。