RNA sequencing of bear fibroblasts for circadian analysis

RNA sequencing was performed on fibroblasts collected from white adipose from a single brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). Fibroblasts were plated into individual wells and cultured to confluence. Cultures were maintained at either 34C (bear average hibernation core body temperature) or 37C (bear average active season body temperature) and sampled at 3 h intervals for 72 hr after synchronization with dexamethasone (0.1mM). The goal was to identify the influence of season and temperature on period and amplitude of global gene expression.