Evolutionary origins of coordination: Physiological and molecular studies on sponges

协调的进化起源：海绵的生理学和分子研究

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03414
• 负责人: Leys, Sally
• 金额: $ 6.71万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=744780
• 关键词: Evolutionary; origins; coordination; Physiological; molecular

How nervous systems evolved is one of the enduring questions of evolutionary biology. Sponges are members of the Porifera, one of the earliest lineages of animals; they are filter feeders and are one of only two groups of multicellular animals that lack a nervous system, yet their genomes have many neuronal-type genes, and sponges have a range of coordinated behaviours in response to environmental stimuli. My students and I study how sponges coordinate behaviour to understand how sensory tissues and coordination systems may have given rise to neurons and nervous systems. In this program we address three questions: (1) Are `neural' molecules expressed and used in a sensory role in sponge tissues? (2) Are novel mechanisms used in sensory-coordination in sponges? and (3) What are the physical parameters that may have influenced early sensory system evolution? Using lab and field experiments we will study the genes, cells and molecules that exist in sponges and which work together to generate whole-body behaviours. 1) Using a sponge that can be grown in the lab - and which responds to stimuli by contracting in a stereotypical way that looks like a sneeze - we will use pharmacological studies to test how signals propagate across tissues. We will explore the triggers that cause contractions and those that prevent unwanted contractions to allow a coordinated behaviour. We will also map the sponge's tissues to better understand which parts are involved in sending and receiving the signals that cause contractions. 2) It is possible that animals evolved very different, unrelated, methods of coordinating their bodies. We will explore two new sensory systems in the sponge body to better understand whether these are quite novel, or whether they also retain roots shared with the animal tree. One such system is a photoreceptor or sponge eye, in a calcarous sponge. The other is a sponge 'nose' or flap of tissue that covers the inhalent openings preventing entry of unwanted particles. We will compare genes and molecules expressed in these structures with those in sensory organs in other animals. 3) How sponges respond and with what cells, tissues, and molecules, requires understanding what sponges respond to. In a third avenue we will investigate the range of environmental parameters that sponges respond to in their natural habitats. We will test whether presence or absence of food, oxygen, flow, light, or changes in temperature stimulate contractions in undisturbed sponges filmed in their habitat. We will also test the effect of specific parameters on sponges in tanks. Work will mostly be done at the University of Alberta, and at the west coast marine station, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

神经系统如何发展是进化生物学的持久问题之一。海绵是Porifera的成员，Porifera是动物最早的谱系之一。它们是过滤器喂食器，是缺乏神经系统的两组多细胞动物之一，但它们的基因组具有许多神经元型基因，并且海绵对环境刺激的响应有一系列协调的行为。我和我的学生研究海绵如何协调行为，以了解感觉组织和协调系统如何引起神经元和神经系统。在此程序中，我们解决了三个问题：（1）在海绵组织中表达并使用“神经”分子？ （2）在海绵中使用的新型机制是否使用？ （3）可能影响早期感觉系统演变的物理参数是什么？使用实验室和现场实验，我们将研究海绵中存在的基因，细胞和分子，它们共同起作用以产生全身行为。 1）使用可以在实验室中生长的海绵 - 并通过以刻板印象的方式收缩对刺激做出反应，看起来像打喷嚏 - 我们将使用药理学研究来测试信号如何在整个组织中传播。我们将探索引起宫缩的触发因素，以及那些阻止不必要的收缩以允许行为的触发因素。我们还将绘制海绵的组织，以更好地了解发送和接收引起收缩的信号所涉及的哪些部分。 2）动物可能进化出非常不同的，无关的方法来协调其身体的方法。我们将探索海绵体中的两个新的感觉系统，以更好地了解它们是否非常新颖，或者它们是否还保留与动物树共有的根源。一种这样的系统是钙质海绵中的感光受体或海绵眼。另一个是一块海绵的“鼻子”或组织的皮瓣，覆盖了阻止不需要颗粒的吸入开口。我们将将这些结构中表达的基因和分子与其他动物的感觉器官中的基因和分子进行比较。 3）海绵如何反应，以及哪些细胞，组织和分子需要了解海绵的反应。在第三大道中，我们将调查在自然栖息地中响应的海绵范围的环境参数范围。我们将测试食物，氧气，流动，光或温度变化是否存在刺激其栖息地中未受干扰的海绵中的收缩。我们还将测试特定参数对储罐中海绵的影响。工作主要是在艾伯塔大学和班菲尔德海洋科学中心的西海岸海洋站进行的。