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Transcriptome analysis of feather follicles reveals candidate genes and pathways associated with pheomelanin pigmentation in chickens.

ABSTRACT: Yellow plumage is common in chickens, especially in breeds such as the Huiyang Bearded chicken, which is indigenous to China. We evaluated plumage colour distribution in F1, F2, and F3 populations of an Huiyang Bearded chicken?×?White Leghorn chicken cross, the heredity of the yellow plumage trait was distinguished from that of the gold plumage and other known plumage colours. Microscopic analysis of the feather follicles indicated that pheomelanin particles were formed in yellow but not in white feathers. To screen genes related to formation of the pheomelanin particles, we generated transcriptome data from yellow and white feather follicles from 7- and 11-week-old F3 chickens using RNA-seq. We identified 27 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when comparing the yellow and white feather follicles. These DEGs were enriched in the Gene Ontology classes 'melanosome' and 'melanosome organization' related to the pigmentation process. Down-regulation of TYRP1, DCT, PMEL, MLANA, and HPGDS, verified using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, may lead to reduced eumelanin and increased pheomelanin synthesis in yellow plumage. Owing to the presence of the Dominant white locus, both white and yellow plumage lack eumelanin, and white feathers showed no pigments. Our results provide an understanding of yellow plumage formation in chickens.

SUBMITTER: Zheng X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7374586 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Transcriptome analysis of feather follicles reveals candidate genes and pathways associated with pheomelanin pigmentation in chickens.

Zheng Xiaotong X Zhang Bo B Zhang Yawen Y Zhong Haian H Nie Ruixue R Li Junying J Zhang Hao H Wu Changxin C

Scientific reports 20200721 1

Yellow plumage is common in chickens, especially in breeds such as the Huiyang Bearded chicken, which is indigenous to China. We evaluated plumage colour distribution in F1, F2, and F3 populations of an Huiyang Bearded chicken × White Leghorn chicken cross, the heredity of the yellow plumage trait was distinguished from that of the gold plumage and other known plumage colours. Microscopic analysis of the feather follicles indicated that pheomelanin particles were formed in yellow but not in whit ...[more]

PMID: 32694523

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Transcriptome analysis of feather follicles reveals candidate genes and pathways associated with pheomelanin pigmentation in chickens.

Publications

Transcriptome analysis of feather follicles reveals candidate genes and pathways associated with pheomelanin pigmentation in chickens.

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