Project description:We characterized the SF proteome of the polyandrous Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, the wild species that gave rise to the domestic chicken. We identify 1,141 SFPs, including proteins involved in immunity and antimicrobial defences, sperm maturation, and fertilisation, revealing a functionally complex SF proteome. This includes a predominant contribution of blood plasma proteins that is conserved with human SF. By comparing the proteome of young and old males with fast or slow sperm velocity in a balanced design, we identify proteins associated with ageing and sperm velocity, and show that old males that retain high sperm velocity have distinct proteome characteristics. SFP comparisons with domestic chickens revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences likely associated with domestication and artificial selection. Collectively, these results shed light onto the functional complexity of avian SF, and provide a platform for molecular studies of fertility, reproductive ageing, and domestication.
Project description:DNA was isolated from whole red blood cells from various lines and crosses of broiler chickens. DNA was genotyped using Axiom genome-wide chicken array and cel files were analyzed using Axiom Analysis Suite Software (version 3.0.1) with Gallus gallus 5.0 using the software's Best Practices for agricultural animals. The results were exported (Genotyping_Data-3-21-2018.vcf) for all genotype calls and text file of all SNPs with >= 97% call rate rate was also produced for filtering the VCF file (ALL_SNPSs_with_Call_Rate_97_Plus_3-21-2018).