Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

0 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Regulation of Feather Length: FGF/IGF Signaling and NOTCH/YAP Modulation of Progenitor Cell Topology [scRNA-seq]

ABSTRACT: The regulation of organ size is a fundamental biological question. This study investigates how feather length is regulated in chickens. We found collar bulge stem cell zones vary in size: main sickle > lesser sickle > contour feathers. During growth, IGF and FGF9 signaling are highly expressed, while BMP, WIF1 and FGF18 increase toward growth termination. Functional assays show that IGF/FGF signaling promotes feather elongation via tyrosine kinase receptor signaling. scRNA-seq analysis reveals accelerated differentiation of keratinocytes in short contour feathers compared to long sickle feathers. In Phoenix chickens, superlong main sickle feathers exhibit specialized stem cell zones with enhanced DLL1 expression and expanded intermediate-layer cell clusters with dynamic interactions involving NOTCH1/DLL1, YAP1, and WNT signaling in progenitor zones in the proximal follicle. Perturbation experiments induce short feather phenotypes arrested at various stages, shedding light on versatile regulatory mechanisms and paving the way for functional control of diverse feather lengths.

ORGANISM(S): Gallus gallus

PROVIDER: GSE285384 | GEO | 2025/08/22

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
		Other

Items per page:

1 - 1 of 1

Similar Datasets

Regulation of Feather Length: FGF/IGF Signaling and NOTCH/YAP Modulation of Progenitor Cell Topology [bulk RNA-seq]

Project description:The regulation of organ size is a fundamental biological question. This study investigates how feather length is regulated in chickens. We found collar bulge stem cell zones vary in size: main sickle > lesser sickle > contour feathers. During growth, IGF and FGF9 signaling are highly expressed, while BMP, WIF1 and FGF18 increase toward growth termination. Functional assays show that IGF/FGF signaling promotes feather elongation via tyrosine kinase receptor signaling. scRNA-seq analysis reveals accelerated differentiation of keratinocytes in short contour feathers compared to long sickle feathers. In Phoenix chickens, superlong main sickle feathers exhibit specialized stem cell zones with enhanced DLL1 expression and expanded intermediate-layer cell clusters with dynamic interactions involving NOTCH1/DLL1, YAP1, and WNT signaling in progenitor zones in the proximal follicle. Perturbation experiments induce short feather phenotypes arrested at various stages, shedding light on versatile regulatory mechanisms and paving the way for functional control of diverse feather lengths.

2025-08-22 | GSE285382 | GEO

RNA-Seq of Bovan brown chicken posterior forewing regions from control and stage HH19 cyclopamine-treated samples, posterior foreleg regions of control Bovan brown and feathered Pekin bantams collected at E10.5

Project description:This experiment was designed to investigate how inhibition of Shh signalling result in loss of flight feathers, and to identify genes involved in flight feather development. We carried out cyclopamine treatment of wing buds at HH19 which gives rise to 2 digit wings with absence of flight feathers. The posterior forewing regions of control and cyclopamine treated wings were analysed at E10.5, the developmental stage at which flight feathers first become apparent. Control leg tissue was also included in the analysis to enrich data for genes involved in general feather development. To enrich further for genes with roles in flight feather development, we also included samples from the feathered legs of Pekin bantam chickens. 3 biological replicates of pooled wing/leg sections were analysed and 12 samples were sequenced.

2019-12-04 | E-MTAB-7520 | biostudies-arrayexpress

RNA-Seq of adult chicken sickle feather tissues between male and female

Project description:Many animals can change their coats in response to different ages, sexes, or seasonal environmental changes. The hormones can also alter the size, shape, texture and color of the regenerated coat. Here we propose feather core branching morphogenesis module can be modulated by sex hormone or other environmental factors to change the form, texture or colors, thus generate a large spectrum of complexity for adaptation. We use sexual dimorphisms of the feather coat to explore the role of hormones in in coat morphogenesis and regeneration. A long-standing question is whether the sex-dependent feather morphologies are autonomously controlled by the male or female cell types, or extrinsically controlled and reversible. We have recently identified core feather branching molecular modules which control the anterior-posterior (BMP, Wnt gradient), medio-lateral (retinoic signaling, gremlin), and proximo-distal (sprouty, BMP) patterning of feathers. We hypothesize that modulatory signaling modules can be added upon these core branching modules to topologically tune the dimension of each parameter. Here we explore the involvement of hormones in generating sexual dimorphisms using exogenously delivered hormones. Our strategy is to mimic androgen levels by applying exogenous dihydrotestosterone and aromatase inhibitors to adult females and injecting exogenous estradiol to adult males. We also examine differentially expressed genes in the feathers of wildtype male and female chickens to identify potential downstream modifiers of feather morphogenesis. The data show male and female feather morphology and their color patterns can be modified extrinsically through molting and reseting the stem cell niche during regeneration.

2018-10-15 | GSE120823 | GEO

Genetic Characterization of the Cell Types of in Developing Feathers, and the Evolution of Feather Complexity

Project description:Feathers are the most complex and diverse epidermal appendages found in vertebrates. Their unique hierarchical organization and development is based on a diversity of cell types and morphologies. Despite being well characterized morphologically and extensive molecular developmental research focusing on candidate genes, little is known about the gene regulatory identities of these presumptive feather cell types. Here, we use single cell and single nuclear RNA sequencing with in situ hybridization to identify and characterize cells types in embryonic chicken feathers. We show that the distinct cell morphologies correspond to feather cell types with distinct gene expression profiles. We also describe a previously unidentified cell type, the basal barb ridge epithelium, which appears to play a role in signaling necessary for barb ridge differentiation and pulp cap production. We also analyze RNA velocity trajectories of developing feather cells, and find distinct developmental trajectories for epidermal cells that constitute the mature feather and those that function only in feather development. Finally, we produce an evolutionary tree of feather cell types based on transcription factor expression in order to test prior developmental hypotheses about feather evolution. Our tree is consistent with the developmental model of feather evolution, and sheds light on the influence of ancestral epidermal stratification on feather cell evolution. This transcriptomic approach to study feather cell types helps lay the ground work for understanding the developmental evolutionary complexity and diversity of feathers.

2025-08-27 | GSE275984 | GEO

Transcriptomic profiles of melanin pigmentation in a plumage ornament

Project description:Feather coloration is one of the most extraordinary examples of phenotypic diversity. This diversity results both from the variation in hue as well as from the presence/absence of pigment in distinct feather regions. The mechanisms that drive presence/absence of pigmentation in feathers are not yet fully understood. Here we characterize the gene expression profiles associated with differential melanin pigmentation in Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) tails, a social feather ornament used in courtship and male-male competition. Junco tail feathers contain both white apigmented regions as well as dark melanin-pigmented regions. We compared the transcriptome-wide gene expression in developing white and dark regions of tail feathers to understand the regulatory pathways that may regulate the development of this feather ornament. We show that both white and dark feathers express melanocyte markers, indicating that white feathers contain cells capable of producing pigment. However, only dark cells express genes associated with melanin synthesis. We identify differences in expression of genes that may regulate melanocyte activation in dark feathers. Future studies should experimentally test the role of these genes in driving differences in feather pigmentation.

2023-01-08 | GSE167085 | GEO

RNA-Seq study of gene expression in feather branching

Project description:Feather branching morphogenesis is a complex process which is likely to be regulated by many genes. Also, feathers from different body regions are drastically different in their morphology, thus suggesting differential gene expression. To understand the feather epithelial branching process, we profiled gene expression in the ramogenic feather epithelium in adult chicken where branching begins. Feathers from the neck, wing, and tail regions in their actively growing phase were each profiled.

2018-02-20 | GSE110591 | GEO

ChIP-seq for embryonic chicken feather and scale samples

Project description:Feather evolution enabled feathered dinosaurs and early Mesozoic birds to venture into new ecological niches. Studying how feathers and scales are specified provides insight into how a new organ evolves. We use genome-wide analyses to identify feather-associated genes and test their feather-forming ability by expressing them in chicken and alligator scales. Intermediate morphotypes revealed five cardinal morphogenetic events: localized growth zone, follicle invagination, branching, feather keratin differentiation and dermal papilla formation. In contrast to molecules known to induce feathers on scales (retinoic acid, beta-catenin), we identify novel scale-feather converters (Sox2, Zic1, Grem1, Spry2, Sox18) which induce only one or several of the five regulatory modules. Some morphotypes resemble filamentous appendages found in feathered dinosaur fossils, while others demonstrate some characteristics of modern feathers. We propose that at least five morpho-regulatory modules were used to diversify ancient reptile scales. The regulatory combination and hierarchical integration led to extant feather forms.

2017-12-31 | GSE87248 | GEO

Chicken embryonic E16 scutate scale and feather samples

2017-12-31 | GSE87247 | GEO

Chicken embryonic feather and scale samples

2017-12-31 | GSE87139 | GEO

Subdivision of ancestral scale genetic program underlies origin of feathers and avian scutate scales

Project description:Birds and other reptiles possess a diversity of feather and scale-like skin appendages. Feathers are commonly assumed to have originated from ancestral scales in theropod dinosaurs. However, most birds also have scaled feet, indicating birds evolved the capacity to grow both ancestral and derived morphologies. This suggests a more complex evolutionary history than a simple linear transition between feathers and scales. We set out to investigate the evolution of feathers via the comparison of transcriptomes assembled from diverse skin appendages in chicken, emu, and alligator. Our data reveal that feathers and the overlapping ‘scutate’ scales of birds share more similar gene expression to each other, and to two types of alligator scales, than they do to the tuberculate ‘reticulate’ scales on bird footpads. Accordingly, we propose a history of skin appendage diversification, in which feathers and bird scutate scales arose from ancestral archosaur body scales, whereas reticulate scales arose earlier in tetrapod evolution. We also show that many “feather-specific genes” are also expressed in alligator scales. In-situ hybridization results in feather buds suggest that these genes represent ancestral scale genes that acquired novel roles in feather morphogenesis and were repressed in bird scales. Our findings suggest that the differential reuse, in feathers, and suppression, in bird scales, of genes ancestrally expressed in archosaur scales has been a key factor in the origin of feathers – and may represent an important mechanism for the origin of evolutionary novelties.

2019-05-01 | GSE120493 | GEO

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data