Project description:The molecular mechanism of photoperiodic time measurement remains unknown in animals. Japanese quail is an excellent model for studying these phenomena because of their rapid and dramatic response to photoperiod. When quail are transferred from short to long day conditions, increase in plasma gonadotrophin (luteinising hormone: LH) can be observed by the end of the first long day and this phenomenon is called âfirst day release modelâ. To dissect the system dynamics and network structure regulating photoperiodism, we examined global gene expression using high-density oligonucleotide microarray for chicken (Affymetrix Chicken Genome Array). Experiment Overall Design: The mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) of quail was collected from 6 birds for each time point during the photoinduction process. Pooled total RNA from three MBHs was labelled and hybridized to each Affymetrix chicken genome array. Samples were analyzed in duplicate set of array (two biological replicate).
Project description:Various physiological processes and behaviours are controlled by changing daylength. To dissect genes involved in the photoperiodic changes in physiology and behaviour, global expression analysis was performed using quail kept under short and long day conditions. Keywords: time course
Project description:Various physiological processes and behaviours are controlled by changing daylength. To dissect genes involved in the photoperiodic changes in physiology and behaviour, global expression analysis was performed using quail kept under short and long day conditions. Experiment Overall Design: The mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) of quail kept under short day condition (6h light:18h dark) or long day condition (20h light:4h dark) were collected for RNA extraction. Pooled total RNA from three MBHs was labelled and hybridized on Affymetrix microarrays. Samples were collected from 6 birds every 4h during a 24 h cycle and were analyzed in duplicate set of array (two biological replicates).
Project description:Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reach sexual maturity early, breed rapidly and successfully, and cost less and require less space than other birds raised for their meat and eggs. Given the value of this species for commercial production and experimental use as well as recent increasing demand, more studies are necessary to determine chromosomal regions and genes associated with gender and breed-differentiation in the species. Identification of sex-related genes can help target chromosomal regions for molecular sexing purposes. This study employed Trinity and edgeR for transcriptome analysis of next-generation RNA-seq data, which included 4 tissues obtained from 3 different breeds of Japanese quail (wild, miniature, and jumbo). The initial goal was to identify genes related to sexual dimorphism, as well as potential novel candidate genes for molecular sexing. Analysis and interpretation of differentially expressed genes shared between female and male tissue contrast groups provided insight into sex-related differences. Several of the genes identified in the present study as significant sex-related genes have been previously found in avian gene expression analyses (e.g. NIPBL, UBAP2), and other genes found differentially expressed in this study and not previously associated with sex-related differences may be considered potential candidates for molecular sexing (e.g. TERA, MYP0, PPR17, CASQ2). Additionally, other genes likely associated with neuronal and brain development (e.g. CHKA, NYAP), as well as body development and size differentiation (e.g. ANKRD26, GRP87) in quail were identified. Expression of homeobox protein regulating genes in the sex-related contrast group revealed two genes (HXC4, ISL1) that may regulate sex-specific anatomical development. Results of these analyses expand the currently limited pool of knowledge on the genetic features of the quail breed and could allow for more effective molecular sexing as well as selective breeding for traits important in commercial production.
Project description:The neuroendocrine regulation of seasonal energy homeostasis and rheostasis are widely studied. However, the molecular pathways underlying tissue-specific adaptations remain poorly described. We conducted an experiment to examine long-term rheostatic changes in energy stability using the well-characterized photoperiodic response of the Japanese quail. We exposed quails to photoperiodic transitions simulating the annual photic cycle and examined the morphology and fat deposition in liver, and white adipose tissue. To identify molecular substrates during the vernal transition in lipid accumulation, we conducted transcriptomic analyses of white adipose and liver tissues. We identified transcripts involved in adipocyte growth (Cysteine Rich Angiogenic Inducer 61, Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor) and obesity-linked disease resistance (Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2, Apolipoprotein D) increase expression in anticipation of body mass gain. In the liver, under long photoperiods, transcripts involved in fatty acid (FA) synthesis (Fatty Acid Synthase, Fatty Acid Desaturase 2) were down-regulated. Parallel upregulation of hepatic Fatty Acid Translocase and Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 expression suggests increased circulatory FA uptake and a switch from glucose to FA utilization. Overall, we have identified tissue-specific biochemical and molecular changes that drive photoperiod-induced adipogenesis in quails. These findings can be use to determine conserved pathways that enable animals to accumulate fat without developing metabolic diseases.
Project description:Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reach sexual maturity early, breed rapidly and successfully, and cost less and require less space than other birds raised for their meat and eggs. Given the value of this species for commercial production and experimental use as well as recent increasing demand, more studies are necessary to determine chromosomal regions and genes associated with gender and breed-differentiation in the species. Identification of sex-related genes can help target chromosomal regions for molecular sexing purposes. This study employed Trinity and edgeR for transcriptome analysis of next-generation RNA-seq data, which included 4 tissues obtained from 3 different breeds of Japanese quail (wild, miniature, and jumbo). The initial goal was to identify genes related to sexual dimorphism, as well as potential novel candidate genes for molecular sexing. Analysis and interpretation of differentially expressed genes shared between female and male tissue contrast groups provided insight into sex-related differences. Several of the genes identified in the present study as significant sex-related genes have been previously found in avian gene expression analyses (e.g. NIPBL, UBAP2), and other genes found differentially expressed in this study and not previously associated with sex-related differences may be considered potential candidates for molecular sexing (e.g. TERA, MYP0, PPR17, CASQ2). Additionally, other genes likely associated with neuronal and brain development (e.g. CHKA, NYAP), as well as body development and size differentiation (e.g. ANKRD26, GRP87) in quail were identified. Expression of homeobox protein regulating genes in the sex-related contrast group revealed two genes (HXC4, ISL1) that may regulate sex-specific anatomical development. Results of these analyses expand the currently limited pool of knowledge on the genetic features of the quail breed and could allow for more effective molecular sexing as well as selective breeding for traits important in commercial production. This study employed Trinity and edgeR for transcriptome analysis of next-generation RNA-seq data, which included 4 tissues obtained from 3 different breeds of Japanese quail (wild, miniature, and jumbo).
Project description:The molecular mechanism of photoperiodic time measurement remains unknown in animals. Japanese quail is an excellent model for studying these phenomena because of their rapid and dramatic response to photoperiod. When quail are transferred from short to long day conditions, increase in plasma gonadotrophin (luteinising hormone: LH) can be observed by the end of the first long day and this phenomenon is called “first day release model”. To dissect the system dynamics and network structure regulating photoperiodism, we examined global gene expression using high-density oligonucleotide microarray for chicken (Affymetrix Chicken Genome Array). Keywords: time course