Phenotypic plasticity, the expression of alternate physiological states, morphological forms and/or distinct behaviors in response to specific environments, is a universal phenomenon in animals. Although the evolution of plastic responses is well understood theoretically, little is known about the genetic and molecular mechanisms of this response and the importance of plasticity in disease. The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, an emerging model system, exhibits an adaptive plasticity in which environmental modifications to meiosis result in parthenogenetic clonal reproduction. How aphids have evolved plasticity in this fundamental process that promotes recombination and reassortment of alleles is unknown. The goal of the proposed research is to understand meiotic plasticity at the molecular level. I propose to examine the discrete molecular differences that produce sexual and asexual meiosis in aphids using cell biological and genomic approaches. Candidate genes and pathways identified by these experiments will be functionally tested using reverse genetics and small molecule inhibitors. These experiments represent the first step toward a molecular characterization of a dramatic example of adaptive plasticity in an ancient, highly conserved process. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32GM077928-01
Application #
7113498
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F05-J (20))
Program Officer
Haynes, Susan R
Project Start
2006-04-01
Project End
2009-03-31
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2007-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$48,796
Indirect Cost
Name
Princeton University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
002484665
City
Princeton
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08544
Srinivasan, Dayalan G; Abdelhady, Ahmed; Stern, David L (2014) Gene expression analysis of parthenogenetic embryonic development of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, suggests that aphid parthenogenesis evolved from meiotic oogenesis. PLoS One 9:e115099
Srinivasan, D G; Fenton, B; Jaubert-Possamai, S et al. (2010) Analysis of meiosis and cell cycle genes of the facultatively asexual pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Insect Mol Biol 19 Suppl 2:229-39
Rider Jr, S D; Srinivasan, D G; Hilgarth, R S (2010) Chromatin-remodelling proteins of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Insect Mol Biol 19 Suppl 2:201-14