Matt Andrews

Research in my laboratory is directed toward the characterization of genes responsible for the induction and maintenance of hibernation in mammals. Hibernating mammals provide a unique system for identifying molecules that are important in regulating metabolism, body temperature and sleep. In a state of deep hibernation, body temperature is only a few degrees above 0°C, oxygen consumption holds at 1/30 to 1/50 of the aroused condition and heart rate can be as low as 3-10 beats/minute, compared to 200-300 beats/minute when the animal is awake and active. We are currently identifying genes that are responsible for regulating the physiological characteristics of hibernation in the heart of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel Spermophilus tridecemlineatus. As part of a high-throughput screen for genes expressed in the hearts of active and hibernating animals, we have assembled contigs for over 100 distinct ground squirrel cDNAs. As a genomic resource, the National Human Genome Research Institute(NHGRI) has funded the construction of a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel genome. Status and availability of this library can be found at:www.genome.gov/10001852

Hibernation is seen in a wide-range of taxa including rodents, carnivores, insectivores, bats and even primates. Since the majority of species within these groups do not hibernate, it has been proposed that hibernation results from the differential expression of genes common to all mammals rather than the evolution of new genes unique to the hibernating species. Determining the function of gene products involved in hibernation is one of the main goals of the laboratory and has applications in the areas of hypothermia, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiac function and organ preservation.

Recent Publications:

Henry, P.G., Russeth, K.P., Tkac, I., Drewes, L.R., Andrews, M.T., and Gruetter, R. (2007) Brain energy metabolism and neurotransmission at near-freezing temperatures: in vivo 1H MRS study of a hibernating mammal. J. Neurochem. 101, 1505-1515.
Andrews, M.T. (2007) Advances in molecular biology of hibernation in mammals. Bioessays 29, 431-440.
Hampton, M. and Andrews, M.T. (2007) A simple mathematical molecular model of mammalian hibernation. J. Theor. Biol. 247, 297-302.
Russeth, K.P., Higgins, L., and Andrews, M.T. (2006) Identification of proteins from non-model organisms using mass spectrometry: Application to a hibernating mammal. J. Proteome Res. 5, 829-839.
Brauch, K.M., Dhruv, N.D., Hanse, E.A., and Andrews, M.T. (2005) Digital transcriptome analysis indicates adaptive mechanisms in the heart of a hibernating mammal. Physiol. Genomics 23, 227-234 (Full text and supplemental EST data).
Andrews, M.T. (2004) Genes controlling the metabolic switch in hibernating mammals. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 32, 1021-1024.
Andrews, M.T., Tredrea, M.M., and Shaw, A.K. (2004) Steroidogenesis and the HPA axis during hibernation: Differential expression of the StAR Protein, in "Life in the Cold" (B.M. Barnes, H.V. Carey, eds.) pp. 407-415, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, AK.
Squire, T.L. and Andrews, M.T. (2003) Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase in a hibernating mammal: I. Novel genomic organization. Physiol. Genomics 16: 119-130.
Squire, T.L., Bauer, V.W., Lowe, M.E., and Andrews, M.T. (2003) Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase in a hibernating mammal: II. Cold-adapted function and differential expression. Physiol. Genomics 16: 131-140.
Carey, H.V., Andrews, M.T, and Martin, S.L., (2003) Mammalian hibernation: Cellular and molecular responses to depressed metabolism and low temperature. Physiological Reviews, 83, 1153-1181.

Genetic factors controlling mammalian hibernation

Recent Publications:

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Current Graduate Students

Recent UROP students