DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Identifying the pollen tube chemoattractant regulating gamete recognition in the wild tomato clade (Solanum sect. Lycopersicon)

论文研究：鉴定野生番茄进化枝（Sol​​anum sect. Lycopersicon）中调节配子识别的花粉管趋化剂

• 批准号: 1500654
• 负责人: Leonie Moyle
• 金额: $ 2.01万
• 依托单位: Indiana University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-06-01 至 2016-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1500654&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Identifying; pollen; tube

This study aims to understand gamete recognition (chemical cues used by male and female gametes to recognize and attract each other) as a mechanism of sexual reproduction, and how it acts to prevent reproductive events between different species. This work uses the domesticated tomato and its twelve diverse wild species relatives, which vary in many reproductive and functional traits. The project will first identify the chemical signal derived from the female gamete that attracts the male gamete within species. Second, it will characterize variation in this signal across species and connect this variation to previously observed reduced gamete attraction between species. In addition to understanding molecular mechanisms of normal and attenuated reproductive function, these data could aid in overcoming breeding barriers between domesticated tomato and its genetically diverse wild relatives. This project will include research by undergraduates from underrepresented groups and potential insights of agricultural importance for crop breeding. To identify the female gamete-derived chemoattractant and its specific tissue of origin, this project will use high depth nucleotide sequencing technologies (RNA-seq) for tissue specific expression analysis. It will assess molecular divergence of this signaling protein via variation in sequence and/or expression across 13 closely related species. These combined approaches will explicitly link patterns of molecular expression and DNA variation to functional divergence in reproductive behaviors. Although many studies have demonstrated that species show reduced sexual compatibility, the underlying molecular mechanisms are generally unknown. Together, this research will provide an unprecedented opportunity to examine the patterns and consequences of evolutionary changes in a reproductive molecule, including for the development of new species.

这项研究旨在了解配子识别（男性和女性配子使用以识别和吸引彼此的化学线索）作为性繁殖机制，以及它如何采取行动来防止不同物种之间的生殖事件。这项工作使用了驯养的番茄及其十二种不同的野生物种亲戚，这些物种在许多生殖和功能性状上有所不同。该项目将首先识别从雌配子派生的化学信号，该信号吸引了物种内的男配子。其次，它将表征整个物种中此信号的变化，并将这种变化与先前观察到的物种之间的配子吸引力降低。除了了解正常和衰减功能的分子机制外，这些数据还可以帮助克服驯化番茄及其遗传多样的野生亲戚之间的繁殖障碍。该项目将包括来自代表性不足的群体的本科生的研究以及对农作物育种重要性的潜在见解。为了鉴定女配子衍生的化学吸引剂及其原始组织的特定组织，该项目将使用高深度核苷酸测序技术（RNA-SEQ）进行组织特定的表达分析。它将通过13个密切相关的物种的序列和/或表达来评估该信号蛋白的分子差异。这些组合方法将明确将分子表达和DNA变异的模式与生殖行为的功能差异联系起来。尽管许多研究表明，物种表现出降低的性相容性，但基本的分子机制通常是未知的。总之，这项研究将提供一个前所未有的机会，以研究生殖分子进化变化的模式和后果，包括用于新物种的开发。