Transcriptome Sequencing and Mass Spectrometry Reveal Genes Involved in Non-Mendelian Inheritance-Mediated Feather Growth Rate in Chickens
January 2024
in “
Biochemical genetics
”
RNA sequencing mass spectrometry quantitative reverse transcription PCR gene expression profiles hair follicle tissues differentially expressed genes differentially expressed proteins JAK-STAT pathway MAPK pathway WNT pathway TGF-β pathway calcium signaling pathway WNT8A ALK GRM4 RNA-seq qRT-PCR hair follicles DEGs DEPs JAK-STAT MAPK WNT TGF-beta calcium signaling
TLDR The research found specific genes and proteins that affect how fast chickens' feathers grow, which is not solely determined by traditional inheritance patterns.
The study used RNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR to investigate the genes and pathways associated with non-Mendelian inheritance-mediated feather growth rate in chickens. The researchers analyzed gene expression profiles in the hair follicle tissues of late-feathering cocks (LC), early-feathering cocks (EC), late-feathering hens (LH), and early-feathering hens (EH). They identified 188 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in EC vs. LC and 538 DEGs in EH vs. LH, with 14 up-regulated genes and 9 down-regulated genes common to both comparisons. Additionally, 41 and 138 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in EC vs. LC and EH vs. LH, respectively. These DEGs and DEPs were enriched in multiple feather-related pathways, including JAK-STAT, MAPK, WNT, TGF-β, and calcium signaling pathways. The study concluded that WNT8A expression was decreased in LC compared with EC, while ALK and GRM4 expression were significantly up-regulated in EH relative to LH.
