Project description:We use ChIP-seq targeting histone 3 lysine 27-acetylation (H3K27ac) to identify putative enhancer sites genome-wide in the ventral pallidum cortex of adult prairie voles
Project description:An Infinium microarray platform (GPL28271, HorvathMammalMethylChip40) was used to generate DNA methylation data from several tissues from prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Ear, liver, and brain samples from the Cornell University prairie vole colony were collected from 48 male and female prairie voles at various life stages: neonatal (<1 month old), sub-adult (2-4 months old), mature adult (4-10 months old), and middle aged/old adult (>10 months old). The pair bonded male and female prairie voles used in our study cohabitated with their partners for several months and produced at least three generations of litters. Animals were euthanized via rapid decapitation, their tissues rapidly extracted and frozen on dry ice before being stored at -80C until further processing for genomic DNA extraction. Brains were coronally sectioned and brain regions from the pair bonding circuit (PBC) were micro-dissected and pooled for each animal. The PBC brain regions included the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, lateral septum, ventral pallidum, and medial amygdala, and ventral tegmental area. Genomic DNA was isolated and purified using the phenol-chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation method. A total of 144 tissue samples were collected and processed for DNA methylation analysis. Tissues: Brain, Ear, Liver
Project description:We compare fore- and mid-brain transcriptomes of reproductive males in monogamous and non-monogamous species pairs of Peromyscus mice, Microtus voles, parid songbirds, dendrobatid frogs, and Xenotilapia species of cichlid fishes. Our study provides evidence of a universal transcriptomic mechanism underlying the evolution of monogamy in vertebrates.
Project description:The urine of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) contains substantial quantities of a small protein that is expressed at much higher levels in males than females, and at higher levels in males in the breeding season. This protein was purified and completely sequenced at the protein level by mass spectrometry. Leucine/isoleucine ambiguity was completely resolved by metabolic labelling, monitoring the incorporation of dietary deuterated leucine into specific sites in the protein. The predicted mass of the sequenced protein was exactly consonant with the mass of the protein measured in bank vole urine samples, correcting for the formation of two disulphide bonds. The sequence of the protein revealed that it was a lipocalin related to aphrodisin and other odorant binding proteins (OBPs), but differed from all OBPs previously described. The pattern of secretion in urine used for scent marking by male bank voles, and similarity to other lipocalins used as chemical signals in rodents, suggest that this protein plays a role in male sexual and/or competitive communication. We propose the name glareosin for this novel protein to reflect the origin of the protein and to emphasise the distinction from known OBPs.