Hypoxia tolerance, longevity and cancer-resistance in the mole rat Spalax – a liver transcriptomics approach. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schmidt, Hanno; Malik, Assaf; Bicker, Anne; Poetzsch, Gesa; Avivi, Aaron; Shams, Imad; Hankeln, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Scientific reports. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Natural history -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 502.85
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13905-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2322

Abstract

Abstract The blind subterranean mole ratSpalax shows a remarkable tolerance to hypoxia, cancer-resistance and longevity. Unravelling the genomic basis of these adaptations will be important for biomedical applications. RNA-Seq gene expression data were obtained from normoxic and hypoxicSpalax and rat liver tissue. HypoxicSpalax broadly downregulates genes from major liver function pathways. This energy-saving response is likely a crucial adaptation to low oxygen levels. In contrast, the hypoxia-sensitive rat shows massive upregulation of energy metabolism genes. Candidate genes with plausible connections to the mole rat's phenotype, such as important key genes related to hypoxia-tolerance, DNA damage repair, tumourigenesis and ageing, are substantially higher expressed inSpalax than in rat. Comparative liver transcriptomics highlights the importance of molecular adaptations at the gene regulatory level inSpalax and pinpoints a variety of starting points for subsequent functional studies.