An association between differential expression and genetic divergence in the Patagonian olive mouse (Abrothrix olivacea)

Recent molecular studies have found striking differences between desert-adapted species and model mammals regarding water conservation. In particular, aquaporin 4, a classical gene involved in water regulation of model species, is absent or not expressed in the kidneys of desert-adapted species. To further understand the molecular response to water availability we studied the Patagonian olive mouse Abrothrix olivacea, a species with an unusually broad ecological tolerance that exhibits a great urine concentration capability. The species is able to occupy both the arid Patagonian steppe and the Valdivian and Magellanic forests. We sampled 95 olive mouse specimens from four localities (two in the steppe, two in the forests) and analyzed both phenotypic variables and transcriptomic data to investigate the response of this species to the contrasting environmental conditions. The relative size of the kidney and the ratio of urine to plasma concentrations were, as expected, negatively correla...

最近的分子研究发现，适应沙漠环境的物种与模式哺乳动物在水分保存方面存在显著差异。特别是，水通道蛋白4（aquaporin 4）——一种参与模式物种水分调节的经典基因——在适应沙漠环境物种的肾脏中缺失或不表达。为进一步阐明物种对水分可利用性的分子响应，我们研究了巴塔哥尼亚橄榄鼠（Abrothrix olivacea）——一种生态耐受性异常广泛且具有强大尿液浓缩能力的物种。该物种既能栖息于干旱的巴塔哥尼亚草原，也能生存于瓦尔迪维亚森林和麦哲伦森林。我们从四个地点（两个位于草原，两个位于森林）采集了95只橄榄鼠样本，分析了表型变量和转录组数据，以探究该物种对不同环境条件的响应。正如预期，肾脏相对大小与尿血浆浓度比呈负相关……