Systematic Identification of Genes Involved in Feather Regeneration in Wanxi-White Goose

Regeneration is one of the key factors affecting downy feather production. However, the signals and molecular controlling the progression of feather regeneration was poorly understood. We used a high density microarray to profile the temporal transcriptome dynamics during the regeneration periods. A total of 3540 genes expressed differentially with significant fold changes during feather regeneration. Cluster analysis revealed event specific dynamic expression of genes related to cell cycling, cell migration, cell proliferation, follicle re-growth and fiber elongation. These clusters involved functional clusters like regulation of actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion and sphingolipid metabolism, and enriched signaling pathways like Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK pathway and TGFβ signaling pathway. In cell cycling, mainly involved genes were cyclin B3, cyclin Y. In TGFβ signaling pathway, mainly involved genes were TGFβ3, BMP7, NOG and BMP2. While Wnt5a, Wnt10a, FZD2, and FZD10 were involved in canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study provides a comprehensive genetic blue print of diverse cellular responses during regeneraton of goose feather. The data provide an initial step towards a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying feather regeneration process and also suggest that signals or molecular participated in feather regeneration was quite different from the generation of hair in mammals. Six separately reared geese were selected for skin sample collection before molting, 1.5 day after molting, 5 day after molting and 10 day after molting. 1.5×1.5 cm2 rhombic skin samples from ventral were excised in each time and placed in tubes containing RNALater for RNA extraction.