Gene expression profiling reveals new potential players of gonad differentiation in the chicken embryo - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue PLoS ONE Année : 2011

Gene expression profiling reveals new potential players of gonad differentiation in the chicken embryo

Résumé

Background : In birds as in mammals, a genetic switch determines whether the undifferentiated gonad develops into an ovary or a testis. However, understanding of the molecular pathway(s) involved in gonad differentiation is still incomplete. Methodology/Principal Findings : With the aim of improving characterization of the molecular pathway(s) involved in gonad differentiation in the chicken embryo, we developed a large scale real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction approach on 110 selected genes for evaluation of their expression profiles during chicken gonad differentiation between days 5.5 and 19 of incubation. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the resulting datasets discriminated gene clusters expressed preferentially in the ovary or the testis, and/or at early or later periods of embryonic gonad development. Fitting a linear model and testing the comparisons of interest allowed the identification of new potential actors of gonad differentiation, such as Z-linked ADAMTS12, LOC427192 (corresponding to NIM1 protein) and CFC1, that are upregulated in the developing testis, and BMP3 and Z-linked ADAMTSL1, that are preferentially expressed in the developing ovary. Interestingly, the expression patterns of several members of the transforming growth factor β family were sexually dimorphic, with inhibin subunits upregulated in the testis, and bone morphogenetic protein subfamily members including BMP2, BMP3, BMP4 and BMP7, upregulated in the ovary. This study also highlighted several genes displaying asymmetric expression profiles such as GREM1 and BMP3 that are potentially involved in different aspects of gonad left-right asymmetry. Conclusion/Significance : This study supports the overall conservation of vertebrate sex differentiation pathways but also reveals some particular feature of gene expression patterns during gonad development in the chicken. In particular, our study revealed new candidate genes which may be potential actors of chicken gonad differentiation and provides evidence of the preferential expression of BMPs in the developing ovary and Inhibin/Activin subunits in the developing testis.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
2011_Carre_Plos_1.pdf (4.07 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte
Loading...

Dates et versions

hal-01129798 , version 1 (29-05-2020)

Identifiants

Citer

Gwenn-Aël Carre, Isabelle Couty, Christelle Hennequet-Antier, Marina Govoroun. Gene expression profiling reveals new potential players of gonad differentiation in the chicken embryo. PLoS ONE, 2011, 6 (9), ⟨10.1371/journal.pone.0023959⟩. ⟨hal-01129798⟩
35 Consultations
27 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More