A panda eats bamboo. (Photo credit: kiszon pascal via Getty Images)
Genetic material from bamboo has been found in the blood of giant pandas, which could transform the food preferences of these famous bears.
Researchers have identified microRNAs — small pieces of genetic information that play a key role in turning genes on and off — from bamboo found in the blood of pandas, according to a new paper published Friday (Feb. 28) in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science. The scientists say this microRNA, or miRNA, can affect the expression of genes associated with pandas’ senses of smell, taste, and dopamine pathways.
“We demonstrated the presence of plant-derived microRNA in the blood of giant pandas,” said Feng Li, a researcher at China West Normal University.
“Our study confirmed that bamboo consumed by giant pandas does indeed influence their eating habits.”
When pandas eat bamboo, they absorb small fragments of the plant's genetic material, just as we absorb substances from the plants we eat.
RNA is a single-stranded molecule made up of the same molecules as our DNA. DNA, in turn, is a double-stranded instruction manual containing individual genes that tell cells how to make specific proteins. MicroRNAs are tiny segments of RNA that can influence whether these genes are turned on or off, as well as how much of them are made, Lee told Live Science in an email.
In a new study, Li and his team describe how they analyzed the blood of seven pandas, one of which was a juvenile, and identified 57 microRNAs likely linked to their bamboo diet.
The researchers found that these microRNAs affected the expression of genes associated with the pandas’ eating habits, including taste and smell signaling, digestion, and dopamine pathways “that make activities like eating fatty and sweet foods or having sex more pleasurable.” This suggests that these bamboo microRNAs may have influenced the pandas’ eating preferences, making eating bamboo more appealing and helping them adapt to a life in which they primarily eat bamboo.
“Bamboo microRNAs are not just food scraps, but active regulators that allow giant pandas to thrive on their unique diet, bridging the gap between their carnivorous origins and their herbivorous lifestyle,” Li told Live Science.
Additionally, microRNAs were found to influence pandas' ability to detect the aroma of fresh bamboo, as well as help their digestive systems more efficiently absorb calories from low-calorie bamboo.
The discovery that miRNA from plants can have such an effect on gene expression in animals could open up new avenues for a variety of treatments for both animals and humans, “with potential biomedical applications for inflammation and metabolic disorders,” Li explained. Previous studies have also shown that miRNA from the plants we eat can influence gene expression in humans and other mammals, potentially playing a role in regulating immune activity and, Li says, “increasing the animals’ resistance to disease.”
Li and his team hope to expand their study beyond the seven pandas involved in their project to examine the wider distribution and impact of these molecules. “The giant panda is a very precious national treasure for our country, and it is not easy to obtain blood samples,” Li said. “If possible, we hope to collect blood samples from young pandas that have not yet tried bamboo for further study and perhaps obtain even more interesting results.”
Sourse: www.livescience.com
