Comparative transcriptomic analyses reveal key genes underlying melanin distribution during embryonic development in geese (Anser anser)

ABSTRACT

1. Melanin distribution typically exhibits a gradient dilution along the dorsal-ventral axis of the body, including in domestic geese. However, the specific genes and molecular mechanisms responsible for this melanin distribution pattern remain incompletely understood.

2. The transcriptomic comparisons were conducted at three embryonic stages, specifically on embryonic d 15 (E15), 22 (E22), and 29 (E29), between the pigmented dorsal skin and the depigmented distal foot.

3. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with melanin synthesis were identified, particularly TYR, TYRP1, and EDNRB2, which exhibited significantly higher expression levels in the dorsal skin at E15 and E22. However, expression levels significantly decreased in later stages (E29).

4. The ASIP gene showed remarkably high-expression levels in the distal feet compared to the dorsal skin post-E22 stage (log₂FC: 5.31/6.88 at E22/E29). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis detected eight terms associated with melanin synthesis and melanosome formation (p < 0.05), including melanosome membrane (GO: 0033162) and melanin biosynthetic process (GO: 0042438). Additionally, KEGG pathway analysis showed significant enrichment of the melanogenesis pathway (hsa004916) at d 22 (E22).

KEYWORDS:

• Graylag geese
• melanin
• genetics
• dorsal skin
• distal feet

Acknowledgments

The support provided by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) during a visit of Y.Z. Yang to Uppsala University (Sweden) is acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data of transcriptome sequencing are deposited in NCBI with the project number of PRJNA974922.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2024.2335943

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the China Agriculture Research System [CARS-42-7], the SAAS Program for Excellent Re-search Team (SPERT), and the Climbing Plan of Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science [PG21171].