De novo oviduct transcriptome of the moor frog Rana arvalis: a quest for maternal effect candidate genes.

ABSTRACT: Maternal effects can substantially affect ecological and evolutionary processes in natural populations. However, as they often are environmentally induced, establishing their genetic basis is challenging. One important, but largely neglected, source of maternal effects are egg coats (i.e., the maternally derived extracellular matrix that surrounds the embryo). In the moor frog, the gelatinous egg coats (i.e., egg jelly) are produced in the mother's oviduct and consist primarily of highly glycosylated mucin type O-glycans. These O-glycans affect jelly water balance and, subsequently, contribute to adaptive divergence in embryonic acid tolerance. To identify candidate genes for maternal effects, we conducted RNAseq transcriptomics on oviduct samples from seven R. arvalis females, repr

SUBMITTER: Shu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6098945 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature