Comparative transcriptome analysis provides clues to molecular mechanisms underlying blue-green eggshell color in the Jinding duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

作者：Zhepeng Wang, Guohua Meng, Yun Bai, Ruifang Liu, Yu Du, Lihong Su · 发表于：BMC Genomics · 年份：2017 · DOI：10.1186/s12864-017-4135-2 · 被引用次数：21 · 研究领域：Bird parasitology and diseases、Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms、Animal Nutrition and Physiology

BACKGROUND: In birds, blue-green eggshell color (BGEC) is caused by biliverdin, a bile pigment derived from the degradation of heme and secreted in the eggshell by the shell gland. Functionally, BGEC might promote the paternal investment of males in the nest and eggs. However, little is known about its formation mechanisms. Jinding ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are an ideal breed for research into the mechanisms, in which major birds lay BGEC eggs with minor individuals laying white eggs. Using this breed, this study aimed to provide insight into the mechanisms via comparative transcriptome analysis. RESULTS: Blue-shelled ducks (BSD) and white-shelled ducks (WSD) were selected from two populations, forming 4 groups (3 ducks/group): BSD1 and WSD1 from population 1 and BSD2 and WSD2 from population 2. Twelve libraries from shell glands were sequenced using the Illumina RNA-seq platform, generating an average of 41 million clean reads per library, of which 55.9% were mapped to the duck reference genome and assembled into 31,542 transcripts. Expression levels of 11,698 genes were successfully compared between all pairs of 4 groups. Of these, 464 candidate genes were differentially expressed between cross-phenotype groups, but not for between same-phenotype groups. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation showed that 390 candidate genes were annotated with 2234 GO terms. No candidate genes were directly involved in biosynthesis or transport of biliverdin. However, the integral components of mem...