褐壳鸡蛋在许多国家深受消费者喜爱,消费者通常把蛋壳褐色深浅作为评价鸡蛋品质的重要指标。褐壳鸡蛋蛋壳颜色形成受多基因共同调控,但是具体候选基因及调控机理尚未明确。因此,本研究以纯系褐壳蛋鸡为实验材料,筛选调控褐壳鸡蛋颜色深浅的候选基因。采用转录组测序技术对产深褐壳鸡蛋和浅褐壳鸡蛋的母鸡蛋壳腺组织进行分析,结果显示,共计有8461个基因在蛋壳腺组织表达,其中34个基因在两组之间差异表达。功能分析发现,卵转铁蛋白(ovotransferrin, TF)基因、热休克蛋白70 (heat shock protein, HSP70)基因以及氧化磷酸化通路均与原卟啉Ⅸ合成通路相关,可能影响褐壳鸡蛋蛋壳色素原卟啉Ⅸ的合成和积累。

Brown eggs are popular in many countries, and consumers regard eggshell brownness as an important indicator of egg quality. Brown eggshell color is controlled by polygene. However, the responsible genes and detailed molecular mechanisms regulating eggshell brownness have not been defined. In the present study, we applied the RNA-seq technology to analyze the transcriptome data of the shell gland epithelium of hens and investigated the candidate genes associated with eggshell brownness. The results indicated that 8461 genes were expressed in the shell gland epithelium, of which 34 genes were differentially expressed in hens laying dark vs. light brown eggs. Functional analysis revealed that two genes, ovotransferrin (TF) and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), as well as the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were involved in the synthesis and transport of protoporphyrin Ⅸ, which might influence the formation of eggshell brownness and result in different shades of brown.