Integrative single-cell characterization of frugivory adaptations in the bat kidney and pancreas

Abstract

Frugivory evolved multiple times in mammals, including bats. However, the cellular and molecular components driving it remain largely unknown. Here, we used integrative single-cell sequencing on insectivorous and frugivorous bat kidneys and pancreases and identified key cell population, gene expression and regulatory element differences associated with frugivorous adaptation that also relate to human disease, particularly diabetes. We found an increase in collecting duct cells and differentially active genes and regulatory elements involved in fluid and electrolyte balance in the frugivore kidney. In the frugivorous pancreas, we observed an increase in endocrine and a decrease in exocrine cells and differences in genes and regulatory elements involved in insulin regulation. Combined, our work provides novel insights into frugivorous adaptation that also could be leveraged for therapeutic purposes.

Spatial and single-cell transcriptomics illuminate bat immunity and barrier tissue evolution

“…The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted November 2, 2023. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.30.564705 doi: bioRxiv preprint found evidence for adaptation to dietary changes through expansion and contraction of specific gene families and in amino acid substitutions in metabolic genes [26][27][28] . More recently, a comparative analysis of insectivorous and frugivorous microbats, found divergence in expression of genes related to fluid and electrolyte balance in the kidney and in insulin secretion in the pancreas 29 . These studies suggest that transcriptomics analysis of R. aegyptiacus cells from relevant tissues can deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underly bat unique metabolism and diet adaptation.…”