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Transcriptome Reveals Multi Pigmentation Genes Affecting Dorsoventral Pattern in Avian Body.

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The agouti signal protein (ASIP) gene plays a key role in duck plumage color variation, influencing melanin synthesis and deposition differently between dorsal and ventral sides. This study reveals ASIP

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Genetics
  • Animal coloration

Background:

  • Animals often display a lighter ventral side and darker dorsal side, a pattern conserved through evolution.
  • The agouti signal protein (ASIP) gene is known to regulate melanocyte differentiation and pigmentation patterns.
  • Understanding the genetic basis of dorsoventral color differences in birds, like ducks, is crucial for evolutionary and developmental studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the dorsoventral color variation in light brown mottling (LBM) ducks.
  • To identify key genes involved in melanin synthesis and deposition during duck embryo development.
  • To compare gene expression patterns between dorsal and ventral skin tissues and across different breeds.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of melanin deposition in duck embryos at different developmental stages (E13, E16).
  • RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of dorsal and ventral skin tissues from LBM duck embryos (E7, E13, E19).
  • Differential gene expression (DEG) analysis comparing body parts and breeds, including white and black duck embryos.

Main Results:

  • Melanin synthesis is most active at embryonic days E13 and E16, with higher deposition on the dorsal side.
  • Co-expression analysis revealed a correlation between the melanogenesis pathway and dorsoventral color differences.
  • Eight melanogenesis-related genes (TYR, TYRP1, MLANA, RAB38, OCA2, TSPAN10, MC1R, MSLN) were common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across comparisons.
  • ASIP, MC1R, TYR, and TYRP1 showed differential mRNA expression between dorsal and ventral tissues, with ASIP potentially playing a decisive role.

Conclusions:

  • The dorsoventral plumage color difference in LBM ducks is likely due to the differential expression of multiple genes within the melanin synthesis pathway.
  • The molecular mechanisms regulating dorsoventral color may be similar to those causing variations between albino and melanic ducks.
  • ASIP is identified as a key upstream gene potentially determining the duck's dorsoventral plumage pattern.