IN SILICO TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR ENRICHMENT ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT CCAAT/ENHANCER BINDING PROTEINS IN THE FOLLICLES OF HYBRID HENS MAY INFLUENCE HETEROSIS FOR CLUTCH SIZE

Abstract

Functional enrichment analysis for transcription factors (TF) was carried on a list of non-additively expressed genes obtained from transcriptome analysis of pre-hierarchical follicles of two purebred Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn) and two reciprocal crossbred (Rhode Island Red × White Leghorn and White leghorn × Rhode Island Red) laying hens. The crossbred hens exhibited heterosis for clutch size Results showed that CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins were significantly enriched in the pre-hierarchical follicles of the hybrid hens. These TF may play critical roles in the progressive growth of the follicles and perhaps, egg laying efficiency in the hybrid hens.