Presenters: Shannon Baker ; Bethanie Wilde ; Harrison Piper
Authors: Bethanie Wilde, Harrison Piper, Baudry Ilunga
Faculty Advisor: Eric Domyan
Institution: Utah Valley University
The domestic rock pigeon (Columba livia) has been the subject of selective breeding for over a hundred years and thus displays an immense variety of phenotypes. Pigmentation of pigeon feathers is controlled by multiple alleles at different loci, which influences the type and amount of melanin deposited in the feathers. Melanocytes are basal epidermis cells that contribute to pigmentation by producing melanin. There are two different kinds of melanin; eumelanin, which produces black pigmentation, and pheomelanin, which produces yellow and red pigmentation. A specific phenotype, known as recessive red, consists of distinctly red plumage and is caused by a mutation that greatly reduces the expression of the gene SOX10. SOX10 is a transcription factor involved in melanogenesis and melanocyte function. It also regulates the function of many other genes. When SOX10 becomes mutated, the regulation of associated genes can change. Previous work has been done to determine which genes are differentially expressed in pigeons with the recessive red mutation (Domyan, 638). A specific gene we are currently looking at is mesothelin (MSLN). MSLN is shown to be downregulated in recessive red pigeons (Domyan, 638), and is expressed in the skin. Previous research has been done on MSLN, and showed that differential expression of MSLN in common mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) changed pigmentation patterns in the dorsal stripe (Xi, 6) These factors make MSLN a good candidate for gene knockdown experiments. We are knocking down MSLN in melan-a cells with siRNA to see the effects on melanin production. We expect there to be less melanin production with the knockdown of MSLN.