Kramer Ashley E, Berral-González Alberto, Ellwood Kathryn M, Ding Shanshan, De Las Rivas Javier, Dutta Aditya
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), University of Salamanca (USAL), Salamanca, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 28;14(1):30787. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80003-2.
The transcriptional regulation of gene expression in the latter stages of follicular development in laying hen ovarian follicles is not well understood. Although differentially expressed genes (DEGs) have been identified in pre-recruitment and pre-ovulatory stages, the master regulators driving these DEGs remain unknown. This study addresses this knowledge gap by utilizing Master Regulator Analysis (MRA) combined with the Algorithm for the Reconstruction of Accurate Cellular Networks (ARACNe) for the first time in laying hen research to identify master regulators that are controlling DEGs in pre-recruitment and pre-ovulatory phases. The constructed ARACNe network included 10,466 nodes and 292,391 edges. The ARACNe network was then used in conjunction with the Virtual Inference of Protein-activity by Enriched Regulon (VIPER) for the MRA to identify top up- and down-regulated master regulators. VIPER analysis revealed FOXO1 as a master regulator, influencing 275 DEGs and impacting pathways related to apoptosis, proliferation, and hormonal regulation. Additionally, CLOCK, known as a crucial regulator of circadian rhythm, emerged as an upregulated master regulator in the pre-ovulatory stage. These findings provide new insights into the transcriptional landscape of laying hen ovarian follicles, offering a foundation for further exploration of follicle development and enhancing reproductive efficiency in avian species.
产蛋母鸡卵巢卵泡发育后期基因表达的转录调控尚未得到充分了解。尽管在募集前和排卵前阶段已经鉴定出差异表达基因（DEGs），但驱动这些DEGs的主要调节因子仍然未知。本研究首次在产蛋母鸡研究中利用主调节因子分析（MRA）结合精确细胞网络重建算法（ARACNe）来识别在募集前和排卵前阶段控制DEGs的主调节因子，从而填补这一知识空白。构建的ARACNe网络包含10466个节点和292391条边。然后将ARACNe网络与通过富集调节子进行蛋白质活性的虚拟推断（VIPER）结合用于MRA，以识别上调和下调的顶级主调节因子。VIPER分析显示FOXO1是一个主调节因子，影响275个DEGs，并影响与细胞凋亡、增殖和激素调节相关的途径。此外，作为昼夜节律关键调节因子的CLOCK在排卵前阶段成为上调的主调节因子。这些发现为产蛋母鸡卵巢卵泡的转录格局提供了新的见解，为进一步探索卵泡发育和提高禽类繁殖效率奠定了基础。
