MicroRNA profiling of hibernating central bearded dragons

Hibernation is a remarkable physiological state employed by many animals that are exposed to limited food and adverse winter conditions. Both tissue-specific and organism wide changes in metabolism and cellular function are employed to endure otherwise fatal physiological stress. Controlling hibernation initiation, maintenance, and arousal requires precise regulation of gene expression; including gene silencing by microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules (18 to 22 nucleotides) that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by either cleaving mRNA, or by reducing translation efficiency. Here we profiled miRNA expression in the Australian central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) using small RNA sequencing of brain, heart, and skeletal muscle from individuals in late hibernation and four days post-arousal.