Collaborative Research: EDGE CMT: Discovery and functional characterization of genes that govern ciliate-algal symbiosis

合作研究：EDGE CMT：控制纤毛虫-藻类共生的基因的发现和功能表征

• 批准号: 2220619
• 负责人: Tingting Xiang
• 金额: $ 89.98万
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2023-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2220619&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; EDGE; CMT; Discovery

Cnidarians, most notably corals, are cornerstones of marine ecosystems and are powered by their symbiotic dinoflagellate algae. However, these symbiotic relationships are particularly susceptible to environmental perturbations such as high temperature, that can result in the loss of the algae, known as bleaching. Strategies to stem bleaching of corals and other species can inform conservation efforts to overcome the crisis coral reefs face globally. This project will utilize a single-celled model involving a ciliate that forms endosymbiotic relationships with dinoflagellate algae to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing these symbiotic relationships. The knowledge gained about the molecular basis of the symbiosis in this project will provide a deeper understanding of how symbiosis breaks down under stress and may allow for the development of strategies to mitigate coral bleaching. Additionally, this project will directly lead to the training and career development for young scientists with diverse backgrounds from the University of Guam and the University of California, Riverside, both of which are Minority-Serving Institutions. Endosymbiotic algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae power cnidarians, like corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, which are cornerstones of marine ecosystems but have been increasingly threatened by environmental perturbations and stress. Despite the critical nature of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, the underlying mechanisms that govern this symbiotic interaction remain largely unknown. Most of the genes in Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis are not accessible to hypothesis-driven research due to extremely limited knowledge about their function. To overcome these limitations, this project will utilize a single-celled ciliate model which enables identification of genotype-phenotype relationships by employing systematic high-throughput screening and protein tagging approaches. This project is expected to elucidate novel mechanisms of endosymbiosis involving Symbiodiniaceae and provide unprecedented insights to the gene functions required for symbiosis in general.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Cnidarians，最著名的是珊瑚，是海洋生态系统的基石，并由其共生鞭毛藻藻提供动力。但是，这些共生关系特别容易受到环境扰动（例如高温）的影响，这些关系可能导致藻类丧失，称为漂白。阻止珊瑚和其他物种的策略可以为克服危机珊瑚礁在全球范围内面临的保护工作提供依据。该项目将利用涉及纤毛的单细胞模型，该模型与鞭毛藻藻类形成内共生关系，以识别管理这些共生关系的分子和细胞机制。关于该项目中共生的分子基础获得的知识将对共生如何在压力下崩溃的方式有更深入的了解，并可能允许制定减轻珊瑚漂白剂的策略。此外，该项目将直接导致关岛大学和加利福尼亚大学河滨分校具有不同背景的年轻科学家的培训和职业发展，这两者都是少数派服务机构。家族共生性藻类在共生性的藻类中，例如珊瑚，海葵和水母，它们是海洋生态系统的基石，但受到环境扰动和压力的威胁越来越多。尽管Cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae共生的批判性质，但控制这种共生相互作用的基本机制仍然很大程度上尚不清楚。由于对其功能的知识极为有限，因此在假设驱动的研究中无法获得共生生生生生生生生生生的大多数基因。为了克服这些局限性，该项目将利用单细胞纤毛模型，该模型通过采用系统的高通量筛选和蛋白质标记方法来识别基因型 - 表型关系。预计该项目将阐明涉及共生科的内共生菌病的新型机制，并为共生所需的基因功能提供前所未有的见解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过评估该基金会的知识分子优点和广泛的影响来评估NSF的法定任务，并被视为值得的支持。