| Affiliations: | |
| Project Leader: | Anthony Martillotti amartill1@tamu.edu Biology |
| Faculty Mentor: | Duncan MacKenzie, Ph.D. |
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Meeting Times:
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Summer 2016 (complete) |
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Team Size:
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3 (Team Full) |
| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Potential long-term undergraduate research position in the MacKenzie lab |
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Team Needs:
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Must be willing to work with animals and complete animal welfare training. Aquarium experience desirable but not essential. Interest in anatomy and physiology preferred. Ability to work occasional nights and weekends. Expected enrollment in 291/491 for 0-2 hours. |
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Description:
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The sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) is the protein responsible for transporting iodide from the diet across the intestinal epithelium into the blood and into the thyroid gland, where iodide is essential for the formation of thyroid hormones. Although thyroid and intestinal transport are well-established in mammals, aquatic animals have the opportunity for direct uptake of iodide from their environment across integumentary membranes. In this project, we will use molecular biological techniques to identify potential novel locations of NIS expression in zebrafish to test the hypothesis that direct environmental iodide accumulation can occur across integument or gills. If successful, this project will help identify novel routes of iodide accumulation in aquatic species that may serve to maintain normal thyroid function in fish in aquaculture. |