Project description:Deep sequencing of mRNA from the rock pigeon Analysis of ploy(A)+ RNA of different specimens: heart and liver from the rock pigeon (Danish Tumbler, Oriental Frill and Racing)
Project description:A comparative profile of miRNAs in pectoral muscle during pigeon development was performed by using high-throughput sequencing. We identified known pigeon miRNAs, novel miRNAs, and miRNAs that are conserved in other birds and mammals.Our results expanded the repertoire of pigeon miRNAs and may be of help in better understanding the mechanism of squab’s rapid development.
Project description:A comparative profile of miRNAs in livers during pigeon development was performed by using high-throughput sequencing. We identified known pigeon miRNAs, novel miRNAs, and miRNAs that are conserved in other birds and mammals.Our results expanded the repertoire of pigeon miRNAs and may be of help in better understanding the mechanism of squab’s rapid development from the perspective of liver development.
Project description:Understanding the origin of morphological diversity across vertebrates is central to evolutionary developmental biology. cis-regulatory elements (CRE) such as enhancers and promoters interpret precise spatiotemporal cues to control and coordinate gene expression. To get insights into both conserved and species-specific variations during early limb patterning and outgrowth, we leverage genome-wide comprehensive assessment of chromatin accessibility and transcriptional changes during mouse forelimb and chicken wing bud development. Our analysis reveals temporal modulation of chromatin accessibility and expression as well as their temporal relationship during the progression of mouse forelimb and chicken wing bud development. Transcription factor binding site enrichment analysis and putative TF occupancy as inferred by integrating TF binding motifs and chromatin accessibility information reveal temporal TF-DNA interactions during forelimb/wing bud patterning. Finally, the integration of accessibility, expression, and TF binding site information allowed to identify candidate gene targets of HAND2 and GLI3 that include conserved as well as species-specific transcriptional regulator-gene interactions.
Project description:We performed a genome-wide ChIP analysis to find the set of target genes regulated by Cbt in Drosophila wing imaginal discs. We reported multiple transcriptional regulators and genes involved in the developlment, growth and patterning of the fruit fly.
Project description:For a damaged tissue to regenerate, the injured site must repair the wound, proliferate, and restore the correct patterning and cell types. We found that Zelda, a pioneer transcription factor largely known for its role in embryonic zygotic genome activation, is dispensable for normal wing development but crucial for wing disc patterning during regeneration. Impairing Zelda function during disc regeneration resulted in adult wings with a plethora of cell fate errors, affecting the veins, margins, and posterior compartment identity. Using CUT&RUN, we identified and validated targets of Zelda including the cell fate genes cut, Delta and achaete, which failed to return to their normal expression patterns upon loss of Zelda. In addition, Zelda controls expression of factors previously established to preserve cell fate during regeneration like taranis and osa, which stabilizes engrailed expression during regeneration, thereby preserving posterior identity. Finally, Zelda ensures proper expression of the integrins encoded by multiple edematous wings and myospheroid during regeneration to prevent blisters in the resulting adult wing. Thus, Zelda is crucial for maintaining cell fate and structural architecture of the regenerating tissue.
