Project description:Avian beaks show extreme species-specific variability in morphology, though they develop from the same primordial structures. In both humans and birds, cranial neural crest cells are the primary source of mesenchyme for the frontonasal prominence; previous work has shown that these cells contain molecular information that regulate species-specific facial variation. To determine the molecular basis of avian craniofacial patterning, we have used Next-Generation sequencing to profile all 20-40nt microRNAs from micro-dissected cranial neural crest cells from the frontonasal prominence of three bird species (chickens, quails, and ducks). Samples for each species were isolated at two developmental stages, before (Hamilton Hamburger stage [HH] 20) and after (HH25) morphological distinctions between the species are evident.
Project description:Comparative genomic hybridisation of genomic DNA from avian species to the Roche NimbleGen chicken whole genome oligonucleotide array
Project description:Avian beaks show extreme species-specific variability in morphology, though they develop from the same primordial structures. In both humans and birds, cranial neural crest cells are the primary source of mesenchyme for the frontonasal prominence; previous work has shown that these cells contain molecular information that regulate species-specific facial variation. To determine the molecular basis of avian craniofacial patterning, we have used Next-Generation sequencing to profile all 20-40nt microRNAs from micro-dissected cranial neural crest cells from the frontonasal prominence of three bird species (chickens, quails, and ducks). Samples for each species were isolated at two developmental stages, before (Hamilton Hamburger stage [HH] 20) and after (HH25) morphological distinctions between the species are evident. Examination of microRNA expression in frontonasal neural crest cells of 3 bird species at two developmental stages. Includes some biological replicates and one technical replicate.
Project description:The majority of bird species studied to date have molt schedules that are not concurrent with other energy demanding life history stages, an outcome assumed to arise from energetic trade-offs. Empirical studies reveal that molt is one of the most energetically demanding and perplexingly inefficient growth processes measured. Furthermore, small birds, which have the highest mass-specific basal metabolic rates (BMR(m)), have the highest costs of molt per gram of feathers produced. However, many small passerines, including white-plumed honeyeaters (WPHE; Lichenostomus penicillatus), breed in response to resource availability at any time of year, and do so without interrupting their annual molt. We examined the energetic cost of molt in WPHE by quantifying weekly changes in minimum resting metabolic rate (RMR(min)) during a natural-molt period in 7 wild-caught birds. We also measured the energetic cost of feather replacement in a second group of WPHEs that we forced to replace an additional 25% of their plumage at the start of their natural molt period. Energy expenditure during natural molt revealed an energy conversion efficiency of just 6.9% (±0.57) close to values reported for similar-sized birds from more predictable north-temperate environments. Maximum increases in RMR(min) during the molt of WPHE, at 82% (±5.59) above individual pre-molt levels, were some of the highest yet reported. Yet RMR(min) maxima during molt were not coincident with the peak period of feather replacement in naturally molting or plucked birds. Given the tight relationship between molt efficiency and mass-specific metabolic rate in all species studied to date, regardless of life-history pattern (Efficiency (%) ?=?35.720 x 10(-0.494BMRm); r²?=?0.944; p? =? or < 0.0001), there appears to be concomitant physiological costs entrained in the molt period that is not directly due to feather replacement. Despite these high total expenditures, the protracted molt period of WPHE significantly reduces these added costs on a daily basis.
Project description:Every known SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex incorporates an ARID DNA binding domain-containing subunit. Despite being a ubiquitous component of these complexes, physiological roles for this domain remain undefined. We screened an N-ethyl-N-nitrosurea (ENU) mutagenized library for ARID domain point mutations and generated an Arid1a/Baf250a hypomorphic allele. The mutant ARID1a (V1068G) protein is stably expressed at wild-type levels, and it is capable of assembling into a SWI/SNF complex with in vitro mononucleosome disruption activity. However, its capacity to bind DNA is lost. Consistent with defective DNA binding, mutant protein occupancy at known SWI/SNF target genes is decreased. Loss of DNA binding is associated with concurrent changes in SWI/SNF target gene expression. Mutant embryos manifest heart defects, fail to establish proper yolk sac vasculature, and exhibit hemorrhaging. As a result of these phenotypes, mutant embryos fail to establish proper circulation, culminating in ischemic arrest in utero between days 9.5 and 11.5. These data support a role for ARID1a-containing, BAF-A complexes in heart and extraembryonic vascular development, and indicate the ARID domain of ARID1a is essential in this regard. Hence, intrinsic ARID subunit-DNA interactions are required for normal SWI/SNF function in vivo. Four-condition experiment, wild-type vs Baf250a/Arid1a^V1068G/V1068G yolk sacs isolated at E8.5 and E9.5. Biological replicates: 3 per condition.
Project description:Every known SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex incorporates an ARID DNA binding domain-containing subunit. Despite being a ubiquitous component of the complex, physiological roles for this domain remain undefined. Here we show that disruption of ARID1a-DNA binding in mice results in embryonic lethality, with mutant embryos manifesting prominent defects in the heart and extraembryonic vasculature. The DNA binding defective mutant ARID1a subunit is stably expressed and capable of assembling into a SWI/SNF complex with chromatin remodeling activity, but promoter occupancy by ARID1a-containing, SWI/SNF complexes (BAF-A) is impaired. Depletion of ARID domain-dependent, BAF-A associations at THROMBOSPONDIN 1 (THBS1) led to the concomitant upregulation of this anti-angiogenic protein. Using a THBS1 promoter-reporter gene, we further show that BAF-A directly regulates THBS1 promoter activity in an ARID domain-dependent manner. Our data not only demonstrate that ARID-DNA interactions are physiologically relevant in higher eukaryotes, but also indicate these interactions can facilitate SWI/SNF binding to target sites in vivo. These findings support the model wherein cooperative interactions among intrinsic subunit-chromatin interaction domains and sequence-specific transcription factors drive SWI/SNF recruitment.
Project description:ARID (AT-rich interacting domain) proteins are a heterogeneous family of DNA-binding proteins involved in transcriptional regulation. No precise DNA-binding preferences have yet been defined for the aberrant member Arid5a. In addition, the protein binds to mRNA motifs for transcript stabilisation, presumably through the DNA-binding ARID domain. Here we first provide an unbiased definition of RNA motifs and a clear breakdown of nucleic acid binding by the ARID domain. An RNA Bind-n-Seq (RBNS) experiment was performed to find a consensus motif of the Arid5a domain. It reveals a preference for an unexpected CAGGCAG consensus motif, accompanied by a general preference for AU-rich motifs.