Meeting Abstract
Telomeres are the guanine-rich, protective ends of chromosomes that shorten with exposure to stressors and consequently, may link early life stress with long-term effects on phenotypic qualities. However, recent findings highlight gaps in our understanding of telomere protection mechanisms (e.g., antioxidants, DNA-binding proteins) and their role in minimizing stress-induced telomere loss. Here, we ask how an acute stressor influences physiology and telomere dynamics in free-living nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), with a focus on molecular mechanisms that protect telomeres from shrinkage or promote recovery (i.e., elongation) following stress. During the peak of nestling growth, we injected mothers with lipopolysaccharide, which led to a temporary (~24h) decrease in chick provisioning. 24 hours and 1 week following treatment, we sampled chicks to quantify acute and lasting effects of food limitation on telomere-related processes in a select set of neural and peripheral tissues. One week after treatment, we saw changes in telomere dynamics, stress reactivity, and gene expression of telomere regulatory processes (i.e., antioxidants, POT1) in blood. Now, we explore how telomere regulatory mechanisms respond immediately after 24 hours of fasting, and the degree to which protection mechanisms vary by tissue. Results will shed light on the causes and consequences of variation in telomere dynamics and emphasize the potential role of telomere protection mechanisms in adaptive responses to stress.
