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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2016, Vol. 15 Issue (2): 397-402    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60969-2
Animal Science · Veterinary Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Expression analysis for candidate genes associated with eggshell mechanical property
 SUN Cong-jiao, DUaN Zhong-yi, QU Lu-jiang, ZhENg Jiang-xia, YaNg Ning, XU gui-yun
National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture/ College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
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摘要  Damaged eggshells result in losses of eggs. The genetic mechanism of variable eggshell strength is still unclear. The current study was conducted to verify whether the eggshell calcification related genes, CALB1, SPP1, DMP4, BMP2 and SLIT2, were associated with eggshell mechanical property. For this purpose quantitative PCR (q-PCR) analysis was performed to detect gene expression between two groups of hens laying strong and weak eggs. The hens were selected from 360 White Leghorn layers at 60 wk to ensure that the strong and weak eggs differed significantly in breaking strength but not in eggshell thickness and weight. Using this special strong/weak eggshell model, we found that the expression of CALB1 in the uterus of strong shell group was about 3-fold higher (P<0.05) than that in weak shell group. The DMP4 expression was significantly higher (2-fold, P<0.05) in the uterus of weak shell group than that in strong shell group. However, no difference was observed for genes of SPP1, SLIT2 and BMP2 between these two groups. The current study provides a new insight to investigate the association of candidate genes with eggshell mechanical property.

Abstract  Damaged eggshells result in losses of eggs. The genetic mechanism of variable eggshell strength is still unclear. The current study was conducted to verify whether the eggshell calcification related genes, CALB1, SPP1, DMP4, BMP2 and SLIT2, were associated with eggshell mechanical property. For this purpose quantitative PCR (q-PCR) analysis was performed to detect gene expression between two groups of hens laying strong and weak eggs. The hens were selected from 360 White Leghorn layers at 60 wk to ensure that the strong and weak eggs differed significantly in breaking strength but not in eggshell thickness and weight. Using this special strong/weak eggshell model, we found that the expression of CALB1 in the uterus of strong shell group was about 3-fold higher (P<0.05) than that in weak shell group. The DMP4 expression was significantly higher (2-fold, P<0.05) in the uterus of weak shell group than that in strong shell group. However, no difference was observed for genes of SPP1, SLIT2 and BMP2 between these two groups. The current study provides a new insight to investigate the association of candidate genes with eggshell mechanical property.
Keywords:  eggshell mechanical property       eggshell calcification related genes       q-PCR       chicken  
Received: 03 December 2014   Accepted:
Fund: 

The current research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31472084), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2013AA102501), the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2011BAD28B03), the Programs for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research in University, China (IRT1191), and the China Agriculture Research Systems (CARS-41).

Corresponding Authors:  XU Gui-yun, Mobile: +86-13601372958,Fax: +86-10-62732741, E-mail: ncppt@cau.edu.cn   
About author:  SUN Cong-jiao, Mobile: +86-15910707895, E-mail: suncongjiao@163.com

Cite this article: 

SUN Cong-jiao, DUaN Zhong-yi, QU Lu-jiang, ZhENg Jiang-xia, YaNg Ning, XU gui-yun. 2016. Expression analysis for candidate genes associated with eggshell mechanical property. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(2): 397-402.

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