Differential expression and genetic polymorphism of DMRT1 and FOXL2 genes in the gonads of Kadaknath chicken

Abstract

In chicken, the left ovary is functional and the right ovary becomes rudimentary in the later stage of the embryonic development. The expression and genetic polymorphism of the DMRT1 and FOXL2 genes are assessed in order to understand the distinct developing process of gonads in male and female embryonic gonads. In the current study, 19th day Kadaknath chicken gonadal tissue samples were collected from the embryos and RT-PCR analysis and DNA sequencing was done. According to the expression studies, the left ovaries relative expression of FOXL2 was 2.14 and 12.65 factor greater than that of the right ovaries and testes, while the right testis relative expression of DMRT1 was 3.78 and 3.83 fold higher than that of the left and right ovaries. DNA sequence analysis in the left ovary identified a nonsynonymous alteration (c.289C>G) involving histidine to aspartic acid at the 289th position in the FOXL2 coding region. The 51st position of exon 6 of DMRT1 has a G→A transition SNP that is not part of the coding sequence (CDS). Males showed higher levels of the DMRT1 gene than females, while females expressed higher levels of FOXL2. It was found that the DMRT1 and FOXL2 genes are polymorphic. The genetic variability in the gonads and the differences in DMRT1 and FOXL2 gene expression allow learning more about the critical mechanisms underlying chicken gonadal development.