Project description:Avian feather has robust regeneration capability. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein coding transcripts that are involved in various biological processes. We infected the regenerating feather follicles with lentivirus to over express Wnt5a or knock down two lncRNAs (lnc3501&lnc7831) separately. The regenerated follicles were dissected at 4 days after infection. We compared gene expression of infected follicles with normal T4 control follicles. Our results revealed that lncRNAs may modulate Wnt signaling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Project description:The feather follicle is a “professional” regenerative organ that undergoes natural cycling and, regeneration after wound plucking. Similar to mammalian hair follicle, dermal papilla (DP) controls feather regeneration, shape, size, and axis. Here we report gene expression profiling for feather DP at different growth stages. For growth phase, we compared gene expression of DP, the ramogenic zone of feather branching epithelium (Erz) and the mesenchymal pulp (Pp). We also compared gene expression of DP at resting phase. To characterize the feather regeneration process, we further profiled gene expression at Day-2 and Day-4 post wound. Our results provide a resource for investigating feather growth and regeneration. Examination of gene expression in dermal papilla (DP) at growth phase and resting phase feather follicle, and during feather regeneration.
Project description:Feather pecking is a major welfare problem in egg production. It may be caused by genetic, physiological and environmental factors. The main aim of this study was to uncover variability in gene expression between individuals from high (HFP) and for low feather pecking (LFP) line using Chicken Gene Expression Microarrays (Agilent Technologies). Samples were assorted to two groups, each containing 9 biological replicates from high feather pecking (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP) line.
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.
Project description:Epithelial appendages are the product of epithelial – mesenchymal interactions. Tissue recombination experiments showed that in general, the dermis determines the phenotype of the epithelial appendage. Chicken dorsal skin epithelium interacts with its underlying mesenchyme to form feathers beginning at E7 (H&H stage 31), while metatarsal scale epithelium interacts with its mesenchyme to form scales beginning at E9 (H&H stage 35) which stabilize around E12 (H&H stage 38). We sought to evaluate the molecular differences of tissues with different competence and inductive abilities to form feathers and scales. Chicken embryos were selected to obtain competent E7 and non-competent at E9 feather forming skin from dorsal. The competent E9 and non-competent E11 meta-tarsal scale forming skin from metatarsal were selected for examing the differences in regional specificity. Epithelium and mesenchyme from each skin were prepared separately. Samples were prepared for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We gathered 8 sets of samples for the analysis: undifferentiated E7 feather skin epithelium (E7fe) and mesenchyme (E7fm); differentiated E9 feather skin epithelium (E9fe) and mesenchyme (E9fm); undifferentiated E9 scale skin epithelium (E9se) and mesenchyme (E9sm); and differentiated E11 scale skin epithelium (E11se) and mesenchyme (E11sm)