Project description:Skeletal elements from the feather star Anneissia japonica were isolated and stripped of organic material. The skeleton was then demineralized and the occluded proteins isolated. The proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and fractions were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The results were compared to predicted proteins encoded by the genome. The proteins found in the organic matrix of the skeleton were compared to those found in other skeletons both within Echinodermata and to other taxa.
Project description:Transcriptome profiles of skin and feather follicle from two body parts at three physiological stages were constructed to understand the molecular network and excavate the candidate genes associated with the plumulaceous and flight feathers structure. The key series-clusters, many candidate biological processes and genes were identified for the morphogenesis, growth and development of two feather types. Through comparing the results of developmental transcritpomes from plumulaceous and flight feather, we found that DEGs belonging to the family of WNT, FGF and BMP have certain differences; even the consistent DEGs of skin and feather follicle transcriptomes from abdomen and wing have the different expression patterns.
Project description:The molecular mechanism controlling regional specific skin appendage phenotypes is a fundamental question that remains unresolved. We recently identified feather and scale primordium associated genes and with functional studies, proposed five major more modules are involved in scale-to-feather conversion and their integration is essential to form today’s feathers. Yet, how the molecular networks are wired and integrated at the genomic level is still unknown. Here, we combine classical recombination experiments and systems biology technology to explore the molecular mechanism controlling cell fate specification. In the chimeric explant, dermal fate is more stable, while epidermal fate is reprogrammed to be similar to the original appendage type of the mesenchyme. We analyze the transcriptome changes in both scale-to-feather and feather-to-scale transition in the epidermis. We found a highly interconnected regulatory gene network controlling skin appendage types. These gene networks are organized around two molecular hubs, β-catenin and retinoic acid (RA), which can bind to regulatory elements controlling downstream gene expression, leading to scale or feather fates. ATAC sequencing analyses revealed about 1000 altered chromatin opening sites, and they are distributed around. When a key gene is perturbed, many other co-expressed genes in the same module also will be influenced. These findings suggest that these feather / scale fate specification genes form an interconnected network, and rewiring of the gene network can lead to changes of appendage phenotypes. This work shows the key hub positions of Beta catenin and retinoic acid signaling in the hierarchy of the scale / feather fate specification gene networks, opening up new possibilities to understand the control switches of multi-component organ phenotypes.
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 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 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:The genetic foundation of chicken tail feather color is not very well studied to date, though that of body feather color is extensively explored. In the present study, we used a synthetic chicken dwarf line (DW), which was originated from the hybrids between a black tail chicken breed, Rhode Island Red (RIR) and a white tail breed, Dwarf Layer (DL), to understand the genetic rules of the white/black tail color. The DW line still contain the individuals with black or white tails, even if the body feather are predominantly red, after more than ten generation of self-crossing and being selected for the body feather color. We firstly performed four crosses using the DW line chickens including black tail male to female, reciprocal crosses between the black and white, and white male to female to elucidate the inheritance pattern of the white/black tail. We found that (i) the white/black tail feather colors are independent of body feather color and (ii) the phenotype are autosomal simple trait and (iii) the white are dominant to the black in the DW lines. Furtherly, we performed a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis to determine the candidate genomic regions underlying the tail feather color by using black tail chickens from the RIR and DW chickens and white individuals from DW lines.
Project description:Regeneration is one of the key factors affecting downy feather production. However, the signals and molecular controlling the progression of feather regeneration was poorly understood. We used a high density microarray to profile the temporal transcriptome dynamics during the regeneration periods. A total of 3540 genes expressed differentially with significant fold changes during feather regeneration. Cluster analysis revealed event specific dynamic expression of genes related to cell cycling, cell migration, cell proliferation, follicle re-growth and fiber elongation. These clusters involved functional clusters like regulation of actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion and sphingolipid metabolism, and enriched signaling pathways like Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK pathway and TGFβ signaling pathway. In cell cycling, mainly involved genes were cyclin B3, cyclin Y. In TGFβ signaling pathway, mainly involved genes were TGFβ3, BMP7, NOG and BMP2. While Wnt5a, Wnt10a, FZD2, and FZD10 were involved in canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study provides a comprehensive genetic blue print of diverse cellular responses during regeneraton of goose feather. The data provide an initial step towards a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying feather regeneration process and also suggest that signals or molecular participated in feather regeneration was quite different from the generation of hair in mammals.