DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Mechanisms driving evolutionary innovation through gene duplication in the amino acid transporters of sap-feeding insects

论文研究：通过食液昆虫氨基酸转运蛋白的基因复制驱动进化创新的机制

• 批准号: 1406631
• 负责人: Alexandra Wilson de Andrade
• 金额: $ 1.95万
• 依托单位: University of Miami
• 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: 2014-06-01 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1406631&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Mechanisms; driving; evolutionary

Gene duplication is important for evolutionary innovation. When genes duplicate, the copies are identical at first but can evolve in different directions resulting in the evolution of new genes, new metabolic pathways and even new developmental pathways. We know genes duplicate often but we don?t fully understand the processes and mechanisms that drive independent evolution of duplicate genes. Co-PI Duncan and PI Wilson will test among different hypotheses of how duplicated genes evolve by examining the evolutionary trajectory of several gene copies following duplication. Their research will focus on the citrus mealybug, a sap-feeding insect that underwent extensive duplication in genes that transport amino acids, nutrients that are essential for normal cellular function in all organisms. The PIs will compare expression and amino acids transported between three types of amino acid transporters: (1) duplicated mealybug transporters, (2) related single-copy transporters in other insects, and (3) the extinct mealybug transporter that Duncan and Wilson will synthetically resurrect. Further, Duncan and Wilson will use computer programs to test the role of natural selection during the evolution of duplicated amino acid transporters in the mealybug.This project will establish which evolutionary and molecular mechanisms are most important in the evolution of duplicated amino acid transporters in the citrus mealybug. The results will contribute to our general understanding of the importance of different mechanisms in the evolution of gene copies following gene duplication, and thus the role these mechanisms play in driving evolutionary innovation across the tree of life. Further, amino acid transporters are essential for survival, so this research could identify potential targets for controlling populations of the citrus mealybug, a pest of citrus and other commercially important plants. By providing opportunities for University of Miami undergraduates to conduct research in a lab setting under the mentorship of co-PI Duncan, this project will advance discovery and learning. Undergraduates at the University of Miami are culturally and ethnically diverse, providing research opportunities for undergraduates underrepresented in the biological sciences. Finally, Duncan and Wilson will share their findings with the general public in a Department of Biology open house that co-PI Duncan will organize during the University of Miami Alumni Week.

基因复制对于进化创新很重要。当基因复制时，副本起初是相同的，但可以朝着不同的方向发展，从而导致新基因，新的代谢途径甚至新的发育途径的发展。我们知道基因经常复制，但我们不完全了解驱动重复基因独立演变的过程和机制。 Co-Pi Duncan和Pi Wilson将通过检查复制后的几个基因拷贝的进化轨迹如何在不同的假设中检验。他们的研究将集中在柑橘味粉状的昆虫上，这是一种在运输氨基酸的基因中进行了广泛的复制，这对于所有生物体中正常细胞功能至关重要。 PI将比较在三种类型的氨基酸转运蛋白之间运输的表达和氨基酸：（1）重复的Meallybug转运蛋白，（2）其他昆虫中相关的单拷贝转运蛋白，以及（3）Duncan和Wilson将合成复发的灭绝的Meallybug Transporters。此外，邓肯（Duncan）和威尔逊（Wilson）将使用计算机程序来测试重复的氨基酸转运蛋白在梅里布格（Meallybug）演变中的自然选择的作用。该项目将确定哪些进化和分子机制在柑橘类柑橘类的重复的氨基酸转运蛋白的进化中最重要。结果将有助于我们对基因复制后不同机制在基因拷贝进化中的重要性的一般理解，因此这些机制在推动生命之树的进化创新中所起的作用。此外，氨基酸转运蛋白对于生存至关重要，因此这项研究可以鉴定控制柑橘类柑橘类种群，柑橘的害虫和其他商业上重要的植物的潜在靶标。通过为迈阿密大学大学生提供机会，在Co-Pi Duncan的指导下在实验室环境中进行研究，该项目将提高发现和学习。迈阿密大学的本科生在文化和种族上是多样的，为生物科学中人数不足的本科生提供了研究机会。最后，邓肯和威尔逊将在迈阿密大学校友周期间在Co-Pi Duncan在Co-Pi Duncan组织的生物学开放日内与公众分享他们的发现。