Transcriptome analysis in the shell gland of laying hens affecting eggshell qualities

Abstract

Background Eggshell plays an important role in protecting against physical damage and microorganic invasion. It is subject to quality loss with increasing hen age, and fragile eggshells result in huge economic losses to the poultry industry. Therefore, improving eggshell quality is particularly important. However, little is known about the potential molecular mechanisms regulating eggshell quality in chickens. Methods In this study, we aimed to compare differential expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs between old and young laying hens to identify related candidate genes for chicken shell gland development by the method of high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results In total, we detected 176 and 383 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs, respectively. Moreover, functional annotation analysis based on the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) databases revealed that DE-lncRNAs and DE-mRNAs were significantly enriched in “phosphate-containing compound metabolic process”, “mitochondrial proton-transporting ATP synthase complex”, “inorganic anion transport”, and other terms related to eggshell calcification and cuticularization. Through integrated analysis, we found that some important genes such as FGF14, COL25A1, GPX8, and GRXCR1 and their corresponding lncRNAs were expressed differentially between two groups, and the results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) among these genes were also in excellent agreement with the sequencing data. In addition, our research indicates that FGF14, COL25A1, GPX8, and the members of the SLC family may be key genes that affect eggshell quality in hens. Conclusions This study provides a catalog of lncRNAs and mRNAs of the laying hen eggshell gland and will contribute to a fuller understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the function of the shell gland in poultry. Our findings will provide a valuable reference for the development of breeding programs aimed at breeding excellent poultry with high eggshell quality or regulating dietary nutrient levels to improve eggshell quality.

An overview of the mechanical characterizations and applications of chopped fiber reinforced composites

“…They discovered that the tensile and flexural properties of the composites were enhanced by the inclusion of chopped carbon fibers. The production and characterisation of chopped carbon fiberreinforced thermoplastic composites were reviewed by Yang et al [19]. They discovered that the fiber length, orientation, and content had a significant impact on the composites' mechanical characteristics.…”

Comparison of the somatic TADs and lampbrush chromomere-loop complexes in transcriptionally active prophase I oocytes

“…2003). In the region GGA4_r2 BAC-clone 49F17 that was mapped to the lateral loop ( Figure 6 ; Supplementary Figure 3 ) overlaps with the gene COL25A1 (collagen type XXV alpha 1 chain), which is upregulated in eggshell gland and found to be one of the key genes affecting eggshell quality in hen (Yang et al . 2020).…”

A Review: Comparative Genomics and Physiology of Parity Mode Evolution in Amniotes

“…Given this overlap across species that diverged over 300 million years ago (Shen et al, 2011), these are excellent candidates for further exploration. Other genes and lncRNAS are purported to be important for the quality of eggshell formation in hens-FGF14, COL25A1, GPX8, and several members of the solute carrier protein (SLC) gene family (Yang et al, 2020). Research into lncRNAs activity in squamate reproductive tissues during embryonic development represents another valuable track for research.…”

“…Differential expression of BMPR1B is associated with differences in eggshell quality in chickens (Yang et al, 2020). Another study associated stage-specific high-expression of BMPR1B with the stage corresponding to extended embryonic retention and placentation in Phrynocephalus vlangalii (Gao et al, 2019).…”

“…I speculate that genes involved with adenogenesis of shell glands may be similarly used to support histotrophic nutrient provisioning, but further research is necessary. Specialized uterine areolar glands are found in some Mabuya lizards, a genus with oviparous species and viviparous species that utilize placentrophy and histotrophy (Brandley et al, 2012;Corso et al, 1988Corso et al, , 2000Jerez & Ramírez-Pinilla, 2001;Ramírez-Pinilla, 2006;Vieira et al, 2007;Visser, 1975 gene superfamily is estimated to be involved with both nutrient transport (Brandley et al, 2012;Whittington et al, 2018) and eggshell deposition (Yang et al, 2020). Adenogenesis is essential for histotrophic nutrient provisioning and secretion of eggshell precursors.…”