Microarray analysis and PCR validation of genes associated with facultative parthenogenesis in Meleagris gallopavo (Turkey)

A cDNA microarray containing 43,661 differentially expressed genes was carried out on the blastoderm of fertilized and facultative parthenogenic turkey embryos at different hours of development. The total number of up-regulated (UR) and down-regulated (DR) genes at 0,12, and 24 h of development were 725 and 1436, 942 and 599, and 589 and 1044, respectively. Common genes between 0 and 12 h, 12 and 24 h, and 0 and 24 h were 55, 67, and 110, respectively. The proportion of genes showing above 50-fold UR and DR at 0,12, and 24 h of development were 2.0% and 1.5%, 0.5% and 1.2%, and 0.2% and 1.1%, respectively. Eight UR genes were validated (APOA1, THRAP3, ARL14EP, PSAP, MOG, MYBPC2, MTIF3 and EDG4) and relative expression of six of them was significantly higher (P <= 0.05) in parthenogenic embryos, while two genes showed non-significant (P >= 0.05) variation. The expression of BCL11A, PRP4B, TCP1, and TPI1 genes was significantly (P <= 0.05) DR in parthenotes in the micro-array study, while the TCP1 gene was up-regulated, and there was no variation in TPI1 gene expression in the PCR validation study. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate differential expression of a large number of genes in parthenotes at different stages of embryo development compared to fertilized embryos. Up-regulation of APOA1, MYBPC2, TCP1, and THRAP3 genes, suggest their crucial role in spontaneous facultative parthenogenic development in turkey birds. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study compared the gene expression differences between fertilized and parthenogenic turkey embryos at different stages of development. It found that a large number of genes showed differential expression in parthenotes, and several genes, including APOA1, MYBPC2, TCP1, and THRAP3, were up-regulated and may play a crucial role in the development of parthenogenesis in turkeys.