Project description:The “ship of the desert”, the one-humped Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius), has a remarkable capacity to survive in conditions of extreme heat without needing to drink water. One of the ways that this is achieved is through the actions of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (AVP) and the natriuretic hormone oxytocin (OXT), both of which are made in a specialised part of the brain called the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS), but exert their effects at the level of the kidney to, respectively, provoke water conservation and salt excretion. Interestingly, our electron microscopy studies have shown that the ultrastructure of the camel HNS changes according to season, suggesting that in the arid conditions of summer the dromedary’s HNS is in a state of permanent activation, in preparation for the likely prospect of water deprivation. Based on our camel genome sequence, we have carried out an RNAseq analysis of the camel HNS in summer and winter.
Project description:To investigate the central control of water homeostasis in the dromedary camel, we have performed transcriptomic studies on the supraoptic nucleus samples from camels under control (water ad libitum) and dehydrated (water deprivation for 20 days) conditions by RNA sequencing. We have identified genes that change in expression in response to hyperosmotic challenge and transcriptomic response networks that might be essential for adaptations of camel to live and thrive in aird desert environment.
Project description:Proteins extracted from camel urine by ultrafiltration and precipitation were fractionated by SDS-PAGE, digested in-gel, then analysed by LC-MS/MS with camel EST sequence database search
Project description:Demand for camel milk (CM) is increasing worldwide, due to its high nutritious value and health benefits. In this study, whole CM powders were produced by spray drying (SD) at six inlet temperatures (190°C - 250°C) and by freeze drying (FD). Physicochemical and functional properties of CM powder proteins were investigated. Both treatments had negative effect on casein solubility, while whey proteins remained soluble and slightly increased its solubility with the extent of MR. The CM powders obtained at higher inlet temperatures demonstrated improved antioxidant activity. Secondary structure of whey proteins did not differ among the samples, while surface hydrophobicity of whey proteins was higher in all SD than in FD samples, suggesting only limited denaturation of camel whey proteins at higher inlet temperatures of drying. Thus, the effects of SD under the conditions applied in our study did not decrease camel whey protein solubility, while drying procedure itself regardless of temperature decreased solubility of camel milk caseins. This study provides useful insights for optimization of CM powder production.
Project description: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 differentially expressed genes with known roles in water conservation which are affected by changes in cholesterol levels. Our datasets suggest that suppression of cholesterol biosynthesis may facilitate water retention in the kidney by indirectly facilitating the AQP2-mediated water reabsorption.