Project Grant 2209203

This $276,000 National Science Foundation Project Grant, awarded under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), will fund research investigating the cellular mechanisms and evolution of coral-algal symbiosis. The fellow will characterize the symbiosome membrane proteome in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana and coral Acropora millepora to better understand the fundamental processes governing the critical symbiotic relationship between corals and algae. Through techniques including antibody labeling, flow cytometry, biochemistry, mass spectrometry, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, the fellow will identify symbiosome membrane proteins, test their function by generating knockouts in the host species, and measure effects on algal symbiont density. Additionally, the fellow will develop an undergraduate research experience course focusing on gene expression profiling of symbiosome proteins in E. diaphana larvae during early symbiosis. Outreach activities are also planned. This award will provide two years of support beginning August 1, 2022 to advance knowledge of cellular mechanisms governing coral-algal symbiosis and train the next generation science workforce.