Gene expression regulation in hibernating chipmunks for elucidating cold tolerance mechanisms in peripheral tissues

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06447
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42030:Animal life science-related
• Research Institution: Kitasato University
• Principal Investigator: Tsukamoto Daisuke 北里大学, 理学部, 助教 (50598836)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 冬眠 / シマリス / 肝臓 / 遺伝子発現制御 / 体温変動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mammalian hibernation is thought to be controlled by the readjustment of common genes' expression and functions for hibernation, as no genes or proteins specific to hibernating mammals have been discovered. This study tested the model that gene expression during hibernation is regulated by readjusting the mechanisms of circadian gene expression control from non-hibernating periods using the temperature variations between deep torpor and interbout arousals. The main achievement was the establishment of an RNA-seq data analysis environment for chipmunks, which lack reference data. Although this research did not lead to the identification of distinctive gene groups, it has created an important foundation for future research.

Free Research Field

冬眠分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小型冬眠哺乳動物シマリスの体温は、冬眠期には、約6℃にまで低下する約6日間の深冬眠と、約37℃に急激に上昇し覚醒する約1日の中途覚醒を繰り返している。なぜ冬眠哺乳動物が冬眠期の低体温でも全身の健全性が維持されているのかは学術的にもそして医療応用の点から社会的にも重要な謎である。本研究成果が、これまで誰も行ってこなかったシマリスでの遺伝子発現の網羅的解析の端緒となることで、新たな知見の獲得につながるものと期待される。