Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.

The molecular mechanisms associated with follicle maturation and ovulation are not well defined in avian species. In this study, we used RNA-seq to study the gene expression profiles of the chicken follicles from different developmental stages (pre-hierarchical, pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory). Tr...

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Main Authors: Guiyu Zhu, Yong Mao, Wendi Zhou, Yunliang Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4696729?pdf=render
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author Guiyu Zhu
Yong Mao
Wendi Zhou
Yunliang Jiang
author_facet Guiyu Zhu
Yong Mao
Wendi Zhou
Yunliang Jiang
author_sort Guiyu Zhu
collection DOAJ
description The molecular mechanisms associated with follicle maturation and ovulation are not well defined in avian species. In this study, we used RNA-seq to study the gene expression profiles of the chicken follicles from different developmental stages (pre-hierarchical, pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory). Transcriptomic analysis revealed a total of 1,277 and 2,310 genes were differentially expressed when follicles progressed through the pre-hierarchical to hierarchical and pre-ovulatory to post-ovulatory transitions, respectively. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) were involved in signaling pathways such as adherens junction, apoptosis and steroid biosynthesis. We further investigated the transcriptional regulation of follicular steroidogenesis by examining the follicle-specific methylation profiles of Star (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein), Cyp11a1 (cytochrome P450, family 11, subfamily a, polypeptide 1) and Hsd3b (hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1), genes encoding the key enzymes for progesterone synthesis. The varied patterns of DNA methylation in proximal promoters of Star and Cyp11a1but not Hsd3b in different follicles could play a major role in controlling gene expression as well as follicular steroidogenic activity. Finally, the promoter-reporter analysis suggests that TGF-β could be involved in the regulation of Hsd3b expression during ovulation. Together, current data not only provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of follicular physiology in chicken follicles, but also present the first evidence of epigenetic regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis in avian species.
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spelling doaj.art-91f13b61e9a2495f8c19c929cf28c1632022-12-22T03:49:33ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-011012e014602810.1371/journal.pone.0146028Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.Guiyu ZhuYong MaoWendi ZhouYunliang JiangThe molecular mechanisms associated with follicle maturation and ovulation are not well defined in avian species. In this study, we used RNA-seq to study the gene expression profiles of the chicken follicles from different developmental stages (pre-hierarchical, pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory). Transcriptomic analysis revealed a total of 1,277 and 2,310 genes were differentially expressed when follicles progressed through the pre-hierarchical to hierarchical and pre-ovulatory to post-ovulatory transitions, respectively. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) were involved in signaling pathways such as adherens junction, apoptosis and steroid biosynthesis. We further investigated the transcriptional regulation of follicular steroidogenesis by examining the follicle-specific methylation profiles of Star (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein), Cyp11a1 (cytochrome P450, family 11, subfamily a, polypeptide 1) and Hsd3b (hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1), genes encoding the key enzymes for progesterone synthesis. The varied patterns of DNA methylation in proximal promoters of Star and Cyp11a1but not Hsd3b in different follicles could play a major role in controlling gene expression as well as follicular steroidogenic activity. Finally, the promoter-reporter analysis suggests that TGF-β could be involved in the regulation of Hsd3b expression during ovulation. Together, current data not only provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of follicular physiology in chicken follicles, but also present the first evidence of epigenetic regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis in avian species.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4696729?pdf=render
spellingShingle Guiyu Zhu
Yong Mao
Wendi Zhou
Yunliang Jiang
Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.
PLoS ONE
title Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.
title_full Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.
title_fullStr Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.
title_short Dynamic Changes in the Follicular Transcriptome and Promoter DNA Methylation Pattern of Steroidogenic Genes in Chicken Follicles throughout the Ovulation Cycle.
title_sort dynamic changes in the follicular transcriptome and promoter dna methylation pattern of steroidogenic genes in chicken follicles throughout the ovulation cycle
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4696729?pdf=render
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AT yongmao dynamicchangesinthefolliculartranscriptomeandpromoterdnamethylationpatternofsteroidogenicgenesinchickenfolliclesthroughouttheovulationcycle
AT wendizhou dynamicchangesinthefolliculartranscriptomeandpromoterdnamethylationpatternofsteroidogenicgenesinchickenfolliclesthroughouttheovulationcycle
AT yunliangjiang dynamicchangesinthefolliculartranscriptomeandpromoterdnamethylationpatternofsteroidogenicgenesinchickenfolliclesthroughouttheovulationcycle