Multiomic analysis of the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) kidney reveals a role for cholesterol in water conservation

ABSTRACT: The one-humped Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) is the most important livestock animal in arid and semi-arid regions and continues to provide basic necessities to millions of people. In the current context of global warming, there is renewed interest in the adaptive mechanisms that enable camelids to survive in arid conditions. Recent investigations described genomic signatures that revealed evolutionary adaptations to desert environments. We now present a comprehensive catalogue of the transcriptomes and proteomes of the dromedary kidney and describe how the gene expression profiles of Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) are modulated as a consequence of chronic dehydration and subsequent acute rehydration. We performed RNAseq and quantification of peptides in samples from 15 dromedaries (5 controls, 5 dehydrated and 5 rehydrated). Gene Ontology analyses suggested an enrichment of the cholesterol biosynthetic process and an overrepresentation of categories related to “ion transmembrane transport” in the camel kidney, and RTN analyses confirmed alterations in the transcriptional machinery involved in cholesterol synthesis. These data were validated by RT-qPCR. Based on our hypothesis of a role for cholesterol during dehydration, we identified DEGs with roles in the countercurrent multiplication process which are affected by changes in the level of cholesterol. Thus, we further validated 3 genes coding for ion transporting proteins (KCNJ8, SLC9A7 and ATP1B3) and AQP2, which were upregulated during dehydration. Our datasets suggest that suppression of cholesterol biosynthesis may facilitate water retention in the kidney of the dromedary by indirectly enhancing the osmotic gradient along the medullary interstitium and the AQP2-mediated water reabsorption.

INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Fusion

ORGANISM(S): Camelus Dromedarius (dromedary) (arabian Camel)

TISSUE(S): Kidney

SUBMITTER: Fernando Alvira Iraizoz  

LAB HEAD: David Murphy

PROVIDER: PXD025644 | Pride | 2021-06-21

REPOSITORIES: Pride