title: Dietary resources shape the adaptive changes of cyanide detoxification function in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
abstract: The functional adaptive changes in cyanide detoxification in giant panda appear to be response to dietary transition from typical carnivore to herbivorous bear. We tested the absorption of cyanide contained in bamboo/bamboo shoots with a feeding trial in 20 adult giant pandas. We determined total cyanide content in bamboo shoots and giant panda's feces, levels of urinary thiocyanate and tissue rhodanese activity using color reactions with a spectrophotometer. Rhodanese expression in liver and kidney at transcription and translation levels were measured using real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. We compared differences of rhodanese activity and gene expressions among giant panda, rabbit (herbivore) and cat (carnivore), and between newborn and adult giant pandas. Bamboo shoots contained 3.2 mg/kg of cyanide and giant pandas absorbed more than 65% of cyanide. However, approximately 80% of absorbed cyanide was metabolized to less toxic thiocyanate that was discharged in urine. Rhodanese expression and activity in liver and kidney of giant panda were significantly higher than in cat, but lower than in rabbit (all P < 0.05). Levels in adult pandas were higher than that in newborn cub. Phylogenetic analysis of both nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the rhodanese gene supported a closer relationship of giant panda with carnivores than with herbivores.
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Shangmian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yie
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Yuliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Chengdong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Wenping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Jingchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Xiangming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Kailai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Zhihe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D031723:Bambusa / Q000737:chemistry*; D060435:Carnivory; D002415:Cats; D003486:Cyanides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D060434:Herbivory; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000652:urine*; D013884:Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001503:Ursidae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D003486:Cyanides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D013884:Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase; C031760:thiocyanate