Gene expression profiling to identify eggshell proteins involved in physical defense of the chicken egg.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As uricoletic animals, chickens produce cleidoic eggs, which are self-contained bacteria-resistant biological packages for extra-uterine development of the chick embryo. The eggshell constitutes a natural physical barrier against bacterial penetration if it forms correctly and remains intact. The eggshell's remarkable mechanical properties are due to interactions among mineral components and the organic matrix proteins. The purpose of our study was to identify novel eggshell proteins by examining the transcriptome of the uterus during calcification of the eggshell. An extensive bioinformatic analysis on genes over-expressed in the uterus allowed us to identify novel eggshell proteins that contribute to the egg's natural defenses.

Results

Our 14 K Del-Mar Chicken I

SUBMITTER: Jonchere V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2827412 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature