Molecular and biochemical characterization on the artificial hibernation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the molecular and physiological changes in an artificially hibernated olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. At first, biochemical properties of artificially hibernated organism were examined through blood analysis. Serum glucose and triglyceride were significantly increased (p < 0.05) during hibernation, while alkaline phosphate (ALP) and glutamic-pyruvic transminase (GPT) had no significant change (p > 0.05). Then the genes associated with the artificial hibernation were investigated with the brain tissue using RNA-seq technology. Change of the expressed genes was examined with DEGseq R package, and gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis. A total of 915 differentially expressed genes including 468 up-regulated and 447 down-regulated genes (p < 0.001) were identified. The GO of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed 45 significantly enriched GO terms indicating up and down regulation of genes, most of which were associated with protein binding, transcription factor activity, transcription factor complex, and sequence-specific DNA binding. Several genes such as intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IF), period 4, and somatolactin (SL) showed significant change in the expression level. For IF and SL, the change of expression level was quantitatively confirmed by the real time PCR.ough blood analysis. Serum glucose and triglyceride were significantly increased (p < 0.05) during hibernation, while alkaline phosphate (ALP) and glutamic-pyruvic transminase (GPT) had no significant change (p > 0.05). Then the genes associated with the artificial hibernation were investigated with the brain tissue using RNA-seq technology. Change of the expressed genes was examined with DEGseq R package, and gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis. A total of 915 differentially expressed genes including 468 up-regulated and 447 down-regulated genes (p < 0.001) were identified.