Dimensions: Collaborative Research: Integrating phylogenetic, genetic, and functional approaches to dissect the role of toxin tolerance in shaping Drosophila biodiversity

维度：合作研究：整合系统发育、遗传和功能方法来剖析毒素耐受性在塑造果蝇生物多样性中的作用

• 批准号: 1737877
• 负责人: Thomas Werner
• 金额: $ 39.7万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-09-01 至 2023-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1737877&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dimensions; Collaborative; Research; Integrating; phylogenetic

Unusual adaptations to the environment have long fascinated scientists and the public. There has been much research to understand the evolution of morphological structures (e.g., shape, color, size). However, far less is known about the evolution of novel biochemical adaptations and the impact of these adaptations on the biodiversity of the organisms in which they appear. Of particular interest is how these traits arise if they are costly to the individuals who harbor them. This research investigates the evolution of biochemical adaptations and the genetic and ecological mechanisms that shape them. The research explores the tolerance of insects (fruit flies) to potent toxins in mushrooms that they consume. By investigating the mechanism of toxin tolerance and how this unique adaptation is maintained in this model system, the research will enhance the general understanding of how novel traits emerge and shape biodiversity. This project also includes activities designed to increase public scientific literacy and familiarity with biodiversity by training teachers and students, from middle school to the undergraduate level (particularly from underrepresented minorities), and generating photographic identification guides for insect species associated with mushrooms.Flies from some groups of Drosophila feed on both toxic and non-toxic mushrooms, and can tolerate high doses of potent cyclopeptide mushroom toxins that are deadly to most other multi-cellular organisms. This research tests hypotheses that predict that: 1) tolerance to these toxic cyclopeptides evolved multiple times; 2) the genetic mechanism of tolerance is not the same in all species; and 3) trade-offs between the physiological costs of tolerance and the benefits of access to a low-competition resource maintain tolerance. The mechanisms of tolerance and their evolution within different fly species are being characterized using metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses that are analyzed in a phylogenetic framework. To assess the genetic basis of variation in toxin tolerance, the researchers are performing artificial selection experiments and genome sequencing. Finally, observational and competition experiments are being used to identify how selective pressures maintain toxin tolerance in natural populations. In sum, this research will provide an in-depth evolutionary, ecological, and physiological assessment of a costly and novel biochemical adaptation, and its impact on biodiversity.

对环境的不寻常适应使科学家和公众着迷。有很多研究以了解形态结构的演变（例如形状，颜色，大小）。然而，关于新型生化适应的演变以及这些适应对它们出现的生物生物多样性的影响知之甚少。特别值得关注的是，如果这些特征对藏有这些特征的个人成本很高，它们会如何产生。这项研究研究了生化适应的演变以及塑造它们的遗传和生态机制。该研究探讨了昆虫（水果蝇）对它们消耗的蘑菇中有效毒素的耐受性。通过研究毒素耐受性的机制以及如何在该模型系统中保持这种独特的适应性，该研究将增强对新特征如何出现和塑造生物多样性的一般理解。该项目还包括旨在通过培训教师和学生提高公共科学素养和对生物多样性的熟悉程度的活动大多数其他多细胞生物。该研究检验假设预测：1）对这些有毒环肽的耐受性多次发展； 2）在所有物种中，耐受性的遗传机制均不相同； 3）宽容的生理成本与获得低竞争资源的收益之间的权衡。使用代谢组和转录组分析在系统发育框架中分析的代谢组和转录组分析的表征，耐受性的机制及其在不同蝇物种中的进化。为了评估毒素耐受性变异的遗传基础，研究人员正在进行人工选择实验和基因组测序。最后，观察性和竞争实验被用于确定选择性压力如何保持自然种群中的毒素耐受性。总而言之，这项研究将对昂贵和新颖的生化适应性及其对生物多样性的影响提供深入的进化，生态和生理评估。