title: Rapid changes in gene expression direct rapid shifts in intestinal form and function in the Burmese python after feeding.
abstract: Snakes provide a unique and valuable model system for studying the extremes of physiological remodeling because of the ability of some species to rapidly upregulate organ form and function upon feeding. The predominant model species used to study such extreme responses has been the Burmese python because of the extreme nature of postfeeding response in this species. We analyzed the Burmese python intestine across a time series, before, during, and after feeding to understand the patterns and timing of changes in gene expression and their relationship to changes in intestinal form and function upon feeding. Our results indicate that >2,000 genes show significant changes in expression in the small intestine following feeding, including genes involved in intestinal morphology and function (e.g., hydrolases, microvillus proteins, trafficking and transport proteins), as well as genes involved in cell division and apoptosis. Extensive changes in gene expression occur surprisingly rapidly, within the first 6 h of feeding, coincide with changes in intestinal morphology, and effectively return to prefeeding levels within 10 days. Collectively, our results provide an unprecedented portrait of parallel changes in gene expression and intestinal morphology and physiology on a scale that is extreme both in the magnitude of changes, as well as in the incredibly short time frame of these changes, with up- and downregulation of expression and function occurring in the span of 10 days. Our results also identify conserved vertebrate signaling pathways that modulate these responses, which may suggest pathways for therapeutic modulation of intestinal function in humans.
authors: Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas;
authors: Audra L
authors: AL
authors: Andrew
authors: Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas;
authors: Daren C
authors: DC
authors: Card
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and.
authors: Robert P
authors: RP
authors: Ruggiero
authors: Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas;
authors: Drew R
authors: DR
authors: Schield
authors: Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas;
authors: Richard H
authors: RH
authors: Adams
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and.
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: Pollock
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
authors: Stephen M
authors: SM
authors: Secor
authors: Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas; todd.castoe@uta.edu.
authors: Todd A
authors: TA
authors: Castoe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D017821:Boidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D004063:Digestion / Q000235:genetics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics
keywords: RNA-Seq; hyperplasia; organ remodeling; physiological remodeling; small intestine