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First published online April 17, 2009
Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 1277-1283 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
doi: 10.1242/jeb.026906

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Variation in yolk precursor receptor mRNA expression is a key determinant of reproductive phenotype in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

Dong Han, Norbert H. Haunerland and Tony D. Williams

Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada, V5A 1S6

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1. The zebra finch VTG/VLDL receptor gene. The 14.5 kb gene sequence is found on chromosome Z (contig 19, ABQF01022106; reverse compliment of 42617-27882). It contains 19 exons and 18 introns. All exons are translated into the VTG/VLDL receptor, with the exception of exon 16 (shown in lighter grey), which is present only in the LR8+ splice variant. PCR primers P5 and P6 were used to distinguish the splice variants, yielding PCR products of 397 bp (LR8+) or 311 bp (LR8–). The real-time PCR primers for quantification of the mRNA (P3, P4) are located in exon 3 and 4, respectively. Sequence similarity between zebra finch and chicken VTG/VLDL-R is shown for exon 1 and 2. The ER-targeting sequence required for proteins located in the cell membrane is boxed.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Expression of VTG/VLDL-R mRNA in (A) various tissues, including ovary of breeding females (BR-ov), ovary of non-breeding females (NBr-ov), post-ovulatory follicle (Post-ov), F1 follicle, skeletal muscle and liver; and (B) in ovary (including white, pre-vitellogenic follicles) and vitellogenic follicles of different stages (from the earliest pre-F3 to the latest F1) in breeding female zebra finch. Relative levels of VTG/VLDL-R mRNA expression were normalized to β-actin mRNA and then compared with that of a control ovarian mRNA preparation (see Materials and methods). Values are means + s.e.m.; sample sizes are given above bars.

View larger version (3K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Tissue distribution of different splice variants of VTG/VLDL-R mRNA in zebra finch. PCR was carried out with primers P5 and P6, yielding PCR products of 400 bp (with exon 16) or 300 bp (without exon 16). Lane A: DNA ladder; lane B: PCR product of oocyte cDNA; lane C: PCR product of muscle cDNA; lane D: PCR product of liver cDNA; lane E: negative control.

View larger version (6K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Follicle growth in zebra finch; growth curve (solid line) based on unpublished data (T.D.W.) compared with data from this study (dashed line, open triangles).

View larger version (9K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 5. Relationship between variation in VTG/VLDL-R mRNA levels in F3 follicles and (A) egg size, and (B) F1 follicle mass.

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