# Post transcriptional mechanisms of muscle atrophy prevention in hibernating mammals

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS · 2020 · $257,168

## Abstract

Project Summary Project 1 – Post-transcriptional mechanisms of muscle atrophy prevention
in hibernating mammals. Reduced skeletal loading leads to muscle atrophy in humans and most
mammals. Disuse muscle atrophy represents a significant clinical problem for patients during
prolonged periods of immobilization and bed rest. Bears and ground squirrels are largely inactive
during hibernation, but they show less muscle loss than would be anticipated over such a prolonged
period of physical inactivity. This suggests that hibernating mammals have unique natural adaptation
to musculoskeletal disuse. Although attenuation of muscle atrophy in hibernating bears and ground
squirrels is well documented, molecular mechanisms underlying this important adaptation are not
known. The proposed research focuses on post-transcriptional regulation in muscle of hibernating
mammals that includes differential microRNAs expression and regulation of protein synthesis. Our
goal is to identify, through microRNA expression and ribosome profiling, candidate microRNAs and
their target transcripts, transcripts translated to proteins, and metabolic and signaling pathways that
underlie the ability to reduce disuse muscle loss during hibernation. To achieve this goal we will
accomplish the following Specific Aims (SA). SA1. Analysis of microRNA expression profiles across
different states of the hibernation cycle in muscle of the black bear and arctic ground squirrel. SA2.
Gene prediction and annotation of de novo genome assembly of the arctic ground squirrel. SA3.
Analysis of gene expression at the protein level using ribosome profiling across different states of the
hibernation cycle in muscle of the arctic ground squirrel. Once completed, genome-wide microRNA
and ribosome profiling will detect sufficiently large number of differentially expressed genes for
comprehensive pathway analysis elucidating the functional significance of transcriptional changes.
We expect comparison of functional gene groups and pathways enriched by co-regulated genes
between two evolutionary distant species with different hibernation modes to reveal a common
molecular program and druggable targets for future study and development of improved treatments
for and prevention of disuse muscle atrophy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978874
- **Project number:** 5P20GM130443-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS
- **Principal Investigator:** Vadim Fedorov
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $257,168
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978874

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978874, Post transcriptional mechanisms of muscle atrophy prevention in hibernating mammals (5P20GM130443-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978874. Licensed CC0.

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