Using green algae to unravel the origins of genome architecture

利用绿藻揭示基因组结构的起源

• 批准号: 435173-2013
• 负责人: Smith, David
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=719106
• 关键词: Using; green; algae; unravel; origins

Genetic sequence data from across the tree of life have revealed a huge variation in genome architecture, but the forces responsible for this variation are poorly understood. Among the most diverse and eccentric genomes in the biological world belong to microbial eukaryotes (protists). In the past five years, I have made significant contributions to the study of eukaryotic and protist genome evolution, publishing 21 peer-reviewed articles and giving 10 conference presentations and invited seminars on the subject. Over the next five years, my proposed research program will focus on plastid-containing protists (algae), with emphasis on green algae, including species of medical and industrial importance, and taxa that have lost photosynthetic capabilities. Using bioinformatic and wet-lab techniques, we will characterize "extreme" genomes within key green algal lineages, explore the underlying genetic diversity within and between the populations that harbour these genomes, and use these data to test contemporary hypotheses and develop new theories on genome evolution. The overarching theme of the proposed work is: How do non-adaptive vs adaptive forces influence genome size and structure? By employing algae that span major transitions in evolution (e.g., unicellular vs multicellular; asexual vs sexual; photosynthetic vs non-photosynthetic; free-living vs parasitic), we hope to understand how genome architecture and genetic diversity are linked to broader life traits. For instance: What are the genomic consequences of losing photosynthetic capabilities? And, do non-adaptive changes to genome structure provide the template for the types of adaptive evolution that can lead to multicellularity? Given the importance of algae to industry and the environment, and the intimate connection between genome structure and how genetic information is inherited and expressed, the results from this research program could have wide-reaching implications for many disciplines within the life sciences. This work will also help in the training and development of approximately five graduate and fifteen undergraduate students.

来自整个生命之树的遗传序列数据显示了基因组结构的巨大差异，但是对这种变异负责的力量却很少了解。在生物学世界中最多样化和偏心的基因组中，属于微生物真核生物（生物）。在过去的五年中，我为对真核和原生物基因组进化的研究做出了重大贡献，发表了21篇经过同行评审的文章，并为该主题提供了10次会议演讲，并邀请了有关该主题的研讨会。 在接下来的五年中，我提出的研究计划将重点关注含质体的生物（藻类），重点是绿藻类，包括医疗和工业重要性的物种，以及失去光合作用能力的分类单元。我们将使用生物信息学和湿球技术来表征关键的绿色藻类谱系中的“极端”基因组，探索拥有这些基因组的种群内部和人群之间的潜在遗传多样性，并使用这些数据来检验当代假设，并在基因组进化方面发展新的理论。 拟议作品的总体主题是：非自适应与适应力如何影响基因组的大小和结构？通过采用跨越进化的重大过渡的藻类（例如，单细胞与多细胞；无性恋与性别；光合作用与非光合子；自由生活与寄生虫），我们希望了解基因组结构和遗传多样性如何与更广泛的生活特征联系起来。例如：失去光合作用能力的基因组后果是什么？并且，对基因组结构的非自适应变化是否为可能导致多细胞的适应性进化类型提供了模板？鉴于藻类对工业和环境的重要性，以及基因组结构与遗传信息的遗传和表达方式之间的紧密联系，因此该研究计划的结果可能对生命科学中的许多学科具有广泛的影响。这项工作还将有助于大约五名研究生和十五名本科生的培训和发展。