CAREER: Carotenoid coloration in an evolutionary radiation: Connecting molecular function, fitness, and diet ecology in wood warblers

职业：进化辐射中的类胡萝卜素着色：连接林莺的分子功能、健康和饮食生态学

• 批准号: 2337828
• 负责人: David Toews
• 金额: $ 150万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-03-01 至 2029-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2337828&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Carotenoid; coloration; evolutionary; radiation

What are the genes that define the differences among closely related species, and how do differences at these genes translate to distinct traits? How do these traits influence the success of individuals in producing more offspring (i.e. increasing fitness)? These questions are fundamental to our understanding of biological diversity but remain poorly understood. This project aims to explicitly link genes, traits, and fitness in a group of colorful songbirds, called wood warblers. The researchers have previously identified candidate genes responsible for differences in coloration in the group, particularly those involving carotenoid molecules. This project will test how those genetic differences actually translate into differences in the enzymes that interact with carotenoid molecules. The project will also include a field study of birds that differ in their carotenoid coloration to study how different coloration traits influence reproduction. In addition, given that carotenoids must be obtained from the diet—i.e. birds cannot synthesize them on their own—the project includes undergraduate researchers using molecular tools to test hypotheses about the diet of birds from fecal samples. Finally, to help broaden participation in science, inspire students, and entice them to learn more about the natural world, the project will develop a set of virtually immersive evolutionary biology experiences focused on avian ecology and evolution.The research project focuses on wood warblers (Parulidae), a family of birds with over 100 species that diversified within the last 10 million years, and which has one of the fastest diversification rates across songbirds. The goal of the project is to study the evolutionary history of genes—and their function—potentially involved in the diversification of this group. The focus of the current study is on carotenoid processing genes, specifically beta carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2). This gene has been implicated in plumage coloration in these and other birds, yet it has not been functionally characterized outside of domesticated species. The goal will be to characterize the carotenoids present across the radiation of warblers, and also synthesize the multiple BCO2 protein variants and test how they interact in vitro with different carotenoid substrates. The work includes a field study of hybridizing Vermivora warblers, which differ in their BCO2 genotypes, to test whether these have an influence on phenotypes. This will require a multi-generational pedigree of individuals within the hybrid zone. Recognizing the dietary dependence of carotenoids, the project engages undergraduate researchers in using molecular tools to analyze fecal samples from these birds in the hybrid zone. This allows for testing hypotheses about the birds' diets, shedding light on the intricate relationship between gene expression, traits, and other ecological factors. Finally, the work includes a partnership with Penn State’s Center for Immersive Experiences to generate a set of virtual reality experiences and 360-degree videos that will give high-school and undergraduate students in central Pennsylvania a sense of the type of field work, as well as teach them about the biology and genetics of hybridization.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.

哪些基因定义了紧密相关的物种之间的差异？这些基因的差异如何转化为不同的特征？这些特征如何影响个人在产生更多后代（即健身的提高）方面的成功？这些问题是我们对生物多样性的理解至关重要的，但仍然了解不足。该项目旨在将一群名为Wood Warblers的彩色歌手中明确连接基因，特质和健身。研究人员先前已经确定了负责该组色素差异的候选基因，尤其是涉及类胡萝卜素分子的候选基因。该项目将测试这些遗传差异如何实际转化为与类胡萝卜素分子相互作用的酶的差异。该项目还将包括对其类胡萝卜素着色不同的鸟类的现场研究，以研究不同的着色特征如何影响繁殖。此外，鉴于必须从饮食中获得类胡萝卜素。鸟类无法自行合成它们 - 该项目包括使用分子工具的本科研究人员来测试有关粪便样品中鸟类饮食的假设。最后，为了帮助扩大科学的参与，激发学生并吸引他们更多地了解自然世界，该项目将开发一系列几乎具有沉浸式的进化生物学体验，重点是鸟莺生态学和进化。该研究项目着重于木瓜虫（Parulidae）（Parulidae），这是一个超过100种物种的家族，在过去的100亿年内，在过去的1000万年中多样化，并跨越了一种多样化的多样化的多样化的多样性。该项目的目的是研究基因的进化史及其功能，与该组的多元化有关。当前研究的重点是类胡萝卜素加工基因，特别是β胡萝卜素氧酶2（BCO2）。该基因已在这些鸟类和其他鸟类的羽毛着色中实现，但是在驯养物种之外并未在功能上表征它。目的是表征鸣鸟辐射中存在的类胡萝卜素，并合成多个BCO2蛋白质变体，并测试它们与不同类胡萝卜素底物的体外相互作用。这项工作包括杂交vermivora莺的现场研究，该研究在其BCO2基因型中不同，以测试它们是否对表型有影响。这将需要在混合区域内的个体多代人的血统。该项目认识到类胡萝卜素的饮食依赖性，使本科研究人员使用分子工具来分析杂种区中这些鸟类的粪便样品。这允许测试有关鸟类饮食的假设，阐明了基因表达，特征和其他生态因素之间的复杂关系。最后，这项工作包括与宾夕法尼亚州立大学的沉浸式体验中心建立合作伙伴关系，以产生一系列虚拟现实经验和360度的视频，这些视频将使宾夕法尼亚州中部的高中生和本科生具有对现场工作类型的感觉，一种对他们的杂种和遗传学的教学，以及对杂种奖的教学。基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响评论标准。