Modulation of Gene Expression in Liver of Hibernating Asiatic Toads (Bufo gargarizans)

Abstract

Hibernation is an effective energy conservation strategy that has been widely adopted by animals to cope with unpredictable environmental conditions. The liver, in particular, plays an important role in adaptive metabolic adjustment during hibernation. Mammalian studies have revealed that many genes involved in metabolism are differentially expressed during the hibernation period. However, the differentiation in global gene expression between active and torpid states in amphibians remains largely unknown. We analyzed gene expression in the liver of active and torpid Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans) using RNA-sequencing. In addition, we evaluated the differential expression of genes between females and males. A total of 1399 genes were identified as differentially expressed between active and torpid females. Of these, the expressions of 395 genes were significantly elevated in torpid females and involved genes responding to stresses, as well as contractile proteins. The expression of 1004 genes were significantly down-regulated in torpid females, most which were involved in metabolic depression and shifts in the energy utilization. Of the 715 differentially expressed genes between active and torpid males, 337 were up-regulated and 378 down-regulated. A total of 695 genes were differentially expressed between active females and males, of which 655 genes were significantly down-regulated in males. Similarly, 374 differentially expressed genes were identified between torpid females and males, with the expression of 252 genes (mostly contractile proteins) being significantly down-regulated in males. Our findings suggest that expression of many genes in the liver of B. gargarizans are down-regulated during hibernation. Furthermore, there are marked sex differences in the levels of gene expression, with females showing elevated levels of gene expression as compared to males, as well as more marked down-regulation of gene-expression in torpid males than females.

Genomic signatures of drift and selection driven by predation and human pressure in an insular lizard

“…References of studies related with specific biological functions are included. Gene Definition Kegg pathway GO-molecular function GO-biological process References ACACB Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 Fatty acid biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, propanoate metabolism, metabolic pathways, insulin signalling pathway, adipocytokine signalling pathway Acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity, ATP binding, identical protein binding, metal ion binding Acetyl-CoA metabolic process, fatty acid biosynthesis process, malonyl-CoA biosynthetic process, protein homotetramerization Lipid metabolism, hibernation 69 ACSBG1 Acyl-CoA synthetase bubblegum family member 1 Fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid degradation, metabolic pathways, fatty acid metabolism, PPAR signalling pathway, adipocytokine signalling pathway CoA-ligase activity, long-chain fatty acid-CoA ligase activity, very long-chain fatty acid-CoA ligase activity Long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis process, response to glucocorticoid, very long-chain fatty acid metabolic process Lipid metabolism, hibernation 70 ADAM2 ADAM metallopeptidase domain 2 Disintegrins and metallopeptidase activity, metal ion binding, metalloendopeptidase activity, toxin activity Integrin-mediated signalling pathway Fertility 71 ADAM9 ADAM metallopeptidase domain 9 Disintegrins and metallopeptidase activity, collagen binding, metal ion binding, toxin activity Collagen, integrin, laminin. Metal ion and SH3 domain binding, metalloendopeptidase activity, toxin activity Activation of MAPKK activity, cell–cell adhesion mediated by integrin, cell–matrix adhesion, cellular response to lipopolysaccharide, keratinocyte differentiation, membrane protein ectodomain proteolysis, monocyte activation, positive regulation of cell adhesion mediated by integrin, keratinocyte migration, macrophage fusion and protein secretion, response to calcium ion, hydrogen peroxide, manganese ion, tumor necrosis factor, transforming growth factor beta receptor signalling pathway Fertility, tail regeneration 71 , 72 ADAMTS17 …”

Molecular characterization, mRNA gene expression, and antimicrobial activity of 2 new cathelicidin genes in goose

“…According to the manufacturer's instructions, total RNA was extracted from each tissue sample using a TRIzol Plus RNA Purification Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). RNA integrity and purity were assessed by Nanodrop after being electrophoresed in formaldehyde gel ( Jin et al., 2018 , Yan et al., 2019 ). The genomic DNA contamination of RNA samples was removed by using a gDNA Eraser (Takara Bio Inc., Dalian, China), and the PrimeScript RT reagent Kit (Takara Bio Inc.) was subsequently used for reverse transcription reaction and performed according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”

Roles of Estrogens in the Healthy and Diseased Oviparous Vertebrate Liver

“…There were 695 differentially expressed genes between females and males, and of these, 655 genes were significantly down-regulated in males. Among these, the gene encoding NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase isoform X1 and several genes for key rate-limited regulated enzymes of glycolysis were down-regulated in males as compared to females [ 51 ]. By contrast to most species, Bufo gargarizans females are larger than males, which results in a higher basal metabolic rate that increases with body surface area and mass.…”