Effects of early-life caloric restriction on gene expression in bank vole metabolic selection lines
Main funder
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 5 000,00
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/04/2021
Project end date: 31/12/2021
Summary
In this project we will test how calorie restriction influences gene expression in individuals differing in inherent metabolic capacity. To do so, we will expose bank voles from selection lines with significantly different metabolic profiles to calorie restriction early in life and characterize the resulting changes in the transcriptome of the liver, one of the metabolically most relevant organs. Individuals with a slow metabolism may rely on distinct pathways relative to those carrying genes that confer a high metabolic capacity, or certain genes be differentially expressed in such individuals. Such differences would have consequences for the ability of individuals to adapt to a reduced energy availability, with possible implications for health outcomes and fitness. Yet, the significance of metabolic profiles in responding to calorie restriction is poorly understood.
