Transcriptome analysis of feather follicles reveals candidate genes and pathways associated with pheomelanin pigmentation in chickens

In order to reveal the candidate genes related to yellow plumage in Chinese chicken, a hybrid population of Huiyang Bearded chicken and White Leghorn chicken, and transcriptome data were generated from the yellow and white feather follicle of F3 population in two periods (7 and 11weeks) respectively, using RNA-seq. 127 common different expressed genes were obtained(DEGs) between two periods, these DEGs were mainly enriched in the Gene Ontology classes 'developmental pigmentation', 'melanin biosynthetic process', 'melanosome organization', 'melanosome membrane' and 'melanosome'all related to the pigmentation process. And involved genes were considered as pigment genes that play important roles in melanogenesis. The results reveal key functional genes and possible molecular mechanisms for the elucidation of yellow plumage formation in Chinese indigenous chickens. Overall design: RNA sequencing of 6 yellow and 6 white feather follicles in an F3 chicken population