Determining Changes in Gene Expression from Microgravity Through qRT-PCR
Start Date
7-8-2026 10:45 AM
End Date
7-8-2026 11:00 AM
Location
ALT 206
Abstract
The effects of microgravity on the human body continue to be an important area of research as the process of advancing space exploration continues forward. Skeletal muscles are greatly impacted by microgravity. Sialic acid is a terminal sugar on the end of N and O-linked glycans, which is known to play a crucial role in muscle function and is involved in some muscle loss disorders, such as GNE Myopathy. This study aims to determine one possible mechanism of microgravity-induced muscle atrophy as would occur during spaceflight. Microgravity conditions are simulated by hindlimb unloading in Wistar rats, which may alter sialylation in skeletal muscles and therefore play a role in the muscle atrophy experienced by astronauts. To assess sialylation of muscle tissue, both qRT-PCR and lectin microarray were used. Specific linkages of sialic acid in both sex and hindlimb loading conditions were examined using a lectin microarray. Significant findings indicate that hindlimb unloading is associated with increased core O-glycan and sialic acid binding compared to normal loading in the soleus muscle of female rats. Gene expression of specific sialyltransferases and sialidases responsible for regulating the 2,3-linkage measured with qRT-PCR found a significant difference between loaded and unloaded expression of ST3GAL1 (p = 0.0035), ST3GAL2 (p = 0.045), ST3GAL4 (p = 0.0014), and NEU2 (p = 0.00047). This research is ongoing with additional sialic acid and other glycan targets to be tested with gastrocnemius and soleus tissues. Continued experimentation will help develop more advanced countermeasures against muscle atrophy in microgravity.
Keywords: muscle atrophy, microgravity, hindlimb unloading, sialic acid, gastrocnemius, soleus, qRT-PCR, lectin microarray, sialyltransferase, sialidase
Determining Changes in Gene Expression from Microgravity Through qRT-PCR
ALT 206
The effects of microgravity on the human body continue to be an important area of research as the process of advancing space exploration continues forward. Skeletal muscles are greatly impacted by microgravity. Sialic acid is a terminal sugar on the end of N and O-linked glycans, which is known to play a crucial role in muscle function and is involved in some muscle loss disorders, such as GNE Myopathy. This study aims to determine one possible mechanism of microgravity-induced muscle atrophy as would occur during spaceflight. Microgravity conditions are simulated by hindlimb unloading in Wistar rats, which may alter sialylation in skeletal muscles and therefore play a role in the muscle atrophy experienced by astronauts. To assess sialylation of muscle tissue, both qRT-PCR and lectin microarray were used. Specific linkages of sialic acid in both sex and hindlimb loading conditions were examined using a lectin microarray. Significant findings indicate that hindlimb unloading is associated with increased core O-glycan and sialic acid binding compared to normal loading in the soleus muscle of female rats. Gene expression of specific sialyltransferases and sialidases responsible for regulating the 2,3-linkage measured with qRT-PCR found a significant difference between loaded and unloaded expression of ST3GAL1 (p = 0.0035), ST3GAL2 (p = 0.045), ST3GAL4 (p = 0.0014), and NEU2 (p = 0.00047). This research is ongoing with additional sialic acid and other glycan targets to be tested with gastrocnemius and soleus tissues. Continued experimentation will help develop more advanced countermeasures against muscle atrophy in microgravity.
Keywords: muscle atrophy, microgravity, hindlimb unloading, sialic acid, gastrocnemius, soleus, qRT-PCR, lectin microarray, sialyltransferase, sialidase
