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.

哪些基因定义了密切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性状？这些性状如何影响个体繁殖更多后代的成功（即提高适应性）？该项目旨在将一群色彩缤纷的鸣禽（称为林莺）的基因、性状和适应性明确联系起来，研究人员此前已经确定了导致该群体颜色差异的候选基因，特别是那些鸟类。该项目涉及类胡萝卜素分子。将测试这些遗传差异实际上如何转化为与类胡萝卜素分子相互作用的酶的差异，该项目还将包括对类胡萝卜素颜色不同的鸟类进行实地研究，以研究不同的颜色特征如何影响繁殖。必须从饮食中获得——即鸟类无法自行合成——该项目包括本科生研究人员使用分子工具从粪便样本中测试有关鸟类饮食的假设，最后，以帮助扩大对科学的参与，启发学生并吸引人们。为了让他们更多地了解自然世界，该项目将开发一套虚拟沉浸式进化生物学体验，重点关注鸟类生态和进化。该研究项目重点关注林莺（Parulidae），这是一个拥有 100 多种物种的鸟类家族，在鸟类内部多样化。过去 1000 万年，是鸣禽多样化速度最快的地区之一，该项目的目标是研究基因的进化历史及其功能，可能与这种多样化有关。目前研究的重点是类胡萝卜素加工基因，特别是 β 胡萝卜素加氧酶 2 (BCO2)，该基因与这些鸟类和其他鸟类的羽毛着色有关，但尚未在驯化物种之外进行功能表征。目标是表征莺辐射中存在的类胡萝卜素，并合成多种 BCO2 蛋白变体并测试它们如何在体外与不同类胡萝卜素底物相互作用。这项工作包括实地研究。将 BCO2 基因型不同的蠕虫进行杂交，以测试它们是否对表型有影响，这需要杂交区域内个体的多代谱系，该项目让本科生研究人员使用类胡萝卜素。分子工具分析杂交区这些鸟类的粪便样本，这可以测试有关鸟类饮食的假设，揭示基因表达、性状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沉浸式体验中心合作，生成一组虚拟现实体验和 360 度视频，让宾夕法尼亚州中部的高中生和本科生了解实地工作的类型。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。