Differential Gene Expression in Mammalian Liver During Hibernation
Abstract
The long-range goal of this project is to understand what molecular changes allow some mammals to achieve and survive hibernation so that these molecular mechanisms may be engineered to evoke similar hypometabolic states in humans. Earlier results supported the hypothesis that differential gene expression is significant for determining the hibernating phenotype. Thus, one objective of this work has been to identify gene products that are differentially expressed during hibernation in ground squirrels. This question was addressed at both the mRNA and protein levels, and led to the identification of numerous gene products with significantly altered expression between summer and hibernating ground squirrels. These proteins provide targets for future work with a goal of improving outcomes after ischemic or hypothermic insults. Our second objective was to determine the control mechanism(s) used to suppress protein synthesis in the liver during hibernation; this aspect of our study defined a novel regulatory mechanism acting through eIF4E as the likely cause of reduced translation in the liver during torpor. Furthermore, this mechanism provides an elegant solution to the need for a reversible process that permits the reactivation, or even hyperactivation, of translation observed
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 13, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA426942
Entities
People
- Elaine Epperson
- Sandra L. Martin
Organizations
- University of California, Irvine