Chicken CDS2 isoforms presented distinct spatio-temporal expression pattern and regulated by insulin in a...

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol synthases (CDSs) are crucial enzymes in lipid metabolism.
• The CDS2 gene and its role in avian species, particularly chickens, remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize chicken CDS2 transcripts.
• To investigate the spatio-temporal expression patterns of CDS2 and its variants.
• To explore the regulatory effect of exogenous insulin on CDS2 mRNA levels.

Main Methods:

• Conventional RT-PCR amplification
• 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)
• Quantitative RT-PCR

Main Results:

• Four alternatively spliced chicken CDS2 transcripts, varying in their 3'-untranslated regions (UTR), were identified.
• Both total CDS2 and the CDS2-4 variant showed prominent expression in adipose tissue, with lower levels in liver and pectoralis.
• Distinct spatio-temporal expression patterns were observed for total CDS2 and CDS2-4 across different developmental stages and tissues (brain, liver, pectoralis).
• Insulin significantly down-regulated total CDS2 mRNA levels in Silky chicken pectoralis and showed breed- and tissue-specific regulatory effects.

Conclusions:

• Chicken CDS2 gene produces multiple isoforms through alternative splicing at the 3'-UTR.
• CDS2 exhibits tissue-specific expression, predominantly in adipose tissue.
• The expression of CDS2 is dynamically regulated during chicken development and is influenced by insulin in a breed- and tissue-specific manner.