MHM Region Methylation Pattern in Chicken

• Grant number: 10/11112-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2010
• End date: July 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Ester Silveira Ramos
• Grantee: Matheus Credendio Eiras
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Birds present the ZZ/ZW sex chromosomal system (male and female, respectively). Some authors have proposed the function of Z- and W-specific genes in bird sex determination. In addition, epigenetic mechanisms might be associated with these processes. The male hypermethylated (MHM) region on the Z chromosome is transcribed as a ncRNA similar to mammals Xist RNA. Nevertheless, there is no consensus about the existence of a dosage compensation mechanism in birds. The objectives of this project are to verify the occurrence and to characterize by Molecular Biology techniques the MHM region methylation pattern in Gallus gallus. Genomic DNA will be extracted from feathers, and cardiac, brain and gonadal tissues of two male and two female adult animals. The methylation pattern will be analyzed by PCR, sodium bisulfite modification, cloning and sequencing. The results will allow the identification of MHM metylathion points and to verify if the methylation pattern previous obtained in feathers is maintained in tissues of different origins.