Transcriptomics in the wild: hibernation physiology in free-ranging dwarf lemurs

Hibernation is an adaptive strategy some mammals use to survive highly seasonal or unpredictable environments. We present the first investigation on the transcriptomics of hibernation in a natural population of primate hibernators: Crossley’s dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus crossleyi). Using capture mark recapture techniques to track the same animals over a period of seven months in Madagascar, we used RNAseq to compare gene expression profiles in white adipose tissue during three distinct physiological states. We also tracked a sympatric population of Sibree''s dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus sibreei), sampling from two individuals at three physiological states throughout the year and complete RNA-seq analysis on these samples.

冬眠是部分哺乳动物用以应对高度季节性或不可预测环境的适应性生存策略。本研究首次针对灵长类冬眠动物自然种群的冬眠转录组学（transcriptomics）展开探究，研究对象为克罗斯莱倭狐猴（Cheirogaleus crossleyi）。研究团队在马达加斯加利用标记重捕法对该种群的同一批个体开展了为期7个月的追踪监测，并通过RNAseq对比了三种不同生理状态下白色脂肪组织的基因表达谱。此外，本研究同时对同域分布的西布瑞倭狐猴（Cheirogaleus sibreei）种群进行了追踪：全年在三种生理状态下各采集2只个体的样本，并对所有样本完成了完整的RNAseq分析。