Conserved distal promoter of the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene controls sexual dichromatism in chickens

General and Comparative Endocrinology
Eri OribeSakae Takeuchi

Abstract

Brilliant plumage is typical of male birds, thus sexual plumage dichromatism is seen in many avian species; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this remains unclear. The agouti signaling protein (ASIP) is a paracrine factor that stimulates yellow/red pigment (pheomelanin) synthesis and inhibits black/brown pigment (eumelanin) synthesis in follicular melanocytes. In mammals, the distal promoter of the ASIP gene acts exclusively on the ventral side of the body to create a countershading pigmentation pattern by stimulating pheomelanin synthesis in the ventrum. Here, we examined the role of the distal ASIP promoter in controlling estrogen-dependent sexual dichromatism in chickens. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that ASIP class 1 mRNAs transcribed by the distal promoter were expressed exclusively on the ventral side of chicks and adult females displaying countershading. In showy adult males, the ASIP class 1 mRNAs were expressed in gold-colored ornamental feathers grown on the back. In the presence of estrogen, males molted into female-like plumage and ASIP class 1 mRNAs expression was altered to female patterns. These results suggest that the distal ASIP promoter produces countershading in...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 15, 2013·Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology·Alexandre Roulin, Anne-Lyse Ducrest
May 3, 2015·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Kentaro ItoVishwajit S Chowdhury
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May 26, 2017·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution·Laura CalJosep Rotllant
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Nov 1, 2017·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Katherine Faust Stryjewski, Michael D Sorenson
Jul 25, 2018·Ecology and Evolution·Carl D SoulsburyChristophe Lebigre

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