Regulation of metabolism and energy-expensive processes during hibernation in dormouse liver may be directed by microRNA

The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is a fat-storing mammal which undergoes annual periods of hibernation to mitigate food scarcity, low ambient temperatures, and reduced photoperiod characteristic of winter. Much like other hibernating species, this animal represses its metabolic rate by downregulating nonessential genes and processes in order to prolong available energy stores and limit waste buildup for the duration of the season. MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs which bind to mRNA and enact post-transcriptional suppression, making miRNA ideal for modulating widespread changes to gene expression including the global downregulation typified by metabolic rate depression. Using next-generating sequencing, we analyzed a small RNA-seq dataset to predict miRNAs which may be differentially regulated during hibernation in dormouse liver.