title: Metagenomic analysis reveals a functional signature for biomass degradation by cecal microbiota in the leaf-eating flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus lena).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animals co-evolve with their gut microbiota; the latter can perform complex metabolic reactions that cannot be done independently by the host. Although the importance of gut microbiota has been well demonstrated, there is a paucity of research regarding its role in foliage-foraging mammals with a specialized digestive system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, a 16S rRNA gene survey and metagenomic sequencing were used to characterize genetic diversity and functional capability of cecal microbiota of the folivorous flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus lena). Phylogenetic compositions of the cecal microbiota derived from 3 flying squirrels were dominated by Firmicutes. Based on end-sequences of fosmid clones from 1 flying squirrel, we inferred that microbial metabolism greatly contributed to intestinal functions, including degradation of carbohydrates, metabolism of proteins, and synthesis of vitamins. Moreover, 33 polysaccharide-degrading enzymes and 2 large genomic fragments containing a series of carbohydrate-associated genes were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cecal microbiota of the leaf-eating flying squirrel have great metabolic potential for converting diverse plant materials into absorbable nutrients. The present study should serve as the basis for future investigations, using metagenomic approaches to elucidate the intricate mechanisms and interactions between host and gut microbiota of the flying squirrel digestive system, as well as other mammals with similar adaptations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology and Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Pei
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shiao-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chung-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chih-hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Hon-Tsen
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D018533:Biomass; D002432:Cecum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008297:Male; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics*; D056186:Metagenomics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis; D014815:Vitamins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D014815:Vitamins