Abstract

Forkhead box protein 2 (FoxP2), acts as a key gene in vocalization development involving language learning of humans and songbirds. In the present study, expression pattern was analyzed in different breeds and genders of chickens. Transcriptional levels tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that roosters had significantly higher mRNA expression than hens and capons, but the difference was not significant in different breeds. Protein expression levels tested by western blotting indicated they were similar with transcriptional test, and that roosters showed significant higher protein expression levels than hens and capons. These results suggest that mRNA and protein expression of FoxP2 were sexually dimorphic. Therefore, FoxP2 is a key gene in gender development, and probably regulates rooster crow.

Key words: Forkhead box protein 2, mRNA expression, protein expression, gender, chicken.