AUTHOR=Zhang Lei , Xie Jun , Sun Guobo , Ji Rongchao , Li Xiaoming , Zhang Xue , Wang Jian 

TITLE=Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in Gaoyou duck ovary at different physiological stages

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1190998

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1190998

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=To identify the essential genes related to ovarian development, the transcriptome profiles of the ovaries of Gaoyou ducks at different physiological stages were analyzed. The transcriptome pro-files of the ovaries of Gaoyou ducks at 150 d (before laying, BL), 240 d (egg laying, EL) and 500 d (nesting, NE) were constructed, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) underwent GO (gene ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analyses. The 6 randomly selected DEGs were verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR that their relative expression was consistent with the transcriptional expression profile. Furthermore, KEGG analysis found that 8 candidate signaling pathways were essential for ovarian development, including the MAPK signaling pathway, Progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, Focal adhesion, TGF-beta signaling path-way and Phagosome. Finally, 5 key DEGs were identified to participate in ovarian development, including TGIF1, TGFBR2, RAF1, PTK2 and FGF10. Our findings reveal the mechanisms underlying the molecular regulation of related genes in Gaoyou duck ovarian development.