Transcriptomic Profiling of Tail Feather Follicles Reveals PMEL-Mediated Depigmentation in Wuhua Yellow Chickens

This RNA-sequencing study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying autosomal dominant white tail feathers in chickens. Transcriptome profiles were generated from tail feather follicles of four white-tailed and four black-tailed F2 hybrid male chickens (8-week-old), derived from a cross between Wuhua Yellow (white-tailed) and Huaixiang (black-tailed) breeds. Differential expression and alternative splicing analysis identified a significant downregulation of the PMEL gene and a coordinated suppression of the melanogenesis pathway in white-tailed individuals. Crucially, we observed a stark reduction in alternative splicing complexity at the PMEL locus in white-tailed follicles, suggesting a novel breed-specific mechanism for regional pigmentation involving post-transcriptional dysregulation. This dataset provides valuable insights into the spatial control of pigmentation and identifies potential targets for genetic selection in poultry breeding.