TRiM pilot project completed August 2024
Molecular change in skeletal muscle during hibernation as a pathway to ischemia reperfusion injury protection Supported by Alaska INBRE, funded by an Institutional Development Award from the National Institutes of Health, P20GM103395.
PI: Anna Goropashnaya, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Institute of Arctic Biology, UAF
Arctic ground squirrels exhibit remarkable adaptations to maintain skeletal muscle mass and strength during prolonged hibernation despite physical inactivity, fasting, and repetitive ischemia-reperfusion events. Previous research conducted by Fedorov and Goropashnaya found no damage in muscle tissue, no muscle atrophy throughout the hibernation season, and an upregulation of genes involved in protein biosynthesis on transcriptome and translational levels in skeletal muscle during late hibernation season. Goropashnaya’s current Alaska INBRE-funded investigations will focus on identifying specific candidate genes and molecular mechanisms used by hibernating Arctic ground squirrels to restore skeletal muscle tissue during chronic ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion. Goropashnaya’s research uses RIBO-seq (to reveal differentially expressed genes and molecular mechanisms on a translational level), and myoAAV (to examine the role of candidate genes in muscle-specific adaptations). Insights gained from the Arctic ground squirrel’s unique adaptations could lead to improved treatments for conditions related to ischemic events, such as heart attacks and stroke, as well as disuse muscle atrophy benefiting persons living with frailty or in long-term care settings.