蛋壳的故事

人类经常食用鸡蛋,却很少关注蛋壳.其实,不同的禽类,如鸡、鸭、鹅、鹌鹑等,其蛋壳也是大有文章.蛋壳的结构     

蛋壳的故事

人类经常食用鸡蛋,却很少关注蛋壳。其实,不同的禽类,如鸡、鸭、鹅、鹌鹑等,其蛋壳也是大有文章。     

青壳鸡蛋与褐壳鸡蛋品质及营养成分比较分析

为了比较青壳鸡蛋和褐壳鸡蛋品质的差异,以苏禽青壳蛋鸡和海兰褐壳蛋鸡2个鸡种为试验素材,采用笼养饲养方式,测定苏禽青壳蛋鸡和海兰褐壳蛋鸡鸡蛋的常规蛋品质和营养成分含量。结果表明：在常规蛋品质方面,苏禽青壳蛋鸡鸡蛋的哈氏单位和蛋黄色泽极显著高于海兰褐蛋鸡鸡蛋（P＜0.01）,蛋黄比率显著高于海兰褐蛋鸡鸡蛋（P＜0.05）,蛋重极显著小于海兰褐蛋鸡鸡蛋（P＜0.01）,蛋形指数、蛋壳厚度和蛋壳强度差异不显著。在营养成分方面,苏禽青壳蛋鸡鸡蛋的干物质、脂肪、胆固醇和卵磷脂含量均极显著高于海兰褐蛋鸡鸡蛋（P＜0.01）,蛋白质和氨基酸含量差异不显著。钙、镁、铜含量两者差异不显著,但苏禽青壳蛋鸡鸡蛋的铁、锌、锰、硒、磷含量均极显著高于海兰褐蛋鸡鸡蛋（P＜0.01）,可见鸡种对鸡蛋常规品质和营养成分均具有一定的影响。     

利用转录组测序筛选鸡蛋褐壳性状相关基因

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。     

水稻颖壳颜色的研究及进展

水稻是世界上一半以上人口的主食,对于我国乃至世界的粮食安全具有举足轻重的作用。颖壳是水稻的重要花器官结构,主要由内、外稃组成。目前最常见颖壳颜色为黄色,而黑色、金黄色、褐色等较为少见,研究表明这主要是由于类黄酮的积累不同导致的。通过分析水稻黑色颖壳性状的遗传机制,并以当前报道的两种异常颖壳(金黄壳、褐壳)突变体为对象,解析了相应颜色颖壳的呈色机理;阐述了类黄酮生物合成基因对颖壳颜色的影响,为剖析水稻颖壳的色素沉积模式提供理论参考;对有色稻壳的应用前景做了分析,为观赏稻的选育指明了方向。     

剥取壳膜的简易方法

壳膜是一种取材容易的半透膜。用盐酸溶解蛋壳钙质的原理剥取壳膜,简单易行,其作法是:在蛋(鸡、鸭、鹅蛋皆可)的一头打一个洞,若生蛋则倒出蛋白蛋黄,若熟蛋则挖出蛋白蛋黄,将蛋壳里面轻轻洗净后置于一小烧杯中。第一种方法是内部溶解法,将稀盐酸注入蛋壳中,勿太满以免流出,盐酸渗过壳膜溶解蛋壳钙     

褐色肉鸭tdTSG4.5-W基因cDNA分子选殖、定序、表达

台湾大学农学院畜产系研究者对褐色肉鸭在产蛋后特定时段比较蛋壳强度不同鸭的输卵管壳腺部粘膜层细胞基因的表达 ,选殖、定序及其他可能涉及蛋壳品质的基因 ,以探讨对蛋壳品质的分子影响机制。开始对两群褐色菜肉鸭分别先在产蛋后 4 .5小时检查其生殖道内存在有一枚蛋形成 ,分     

蛋为什么不是球体

大家知道,同样的材料以制成球体容积最大。换句话说,在容量相同的条件下,制成球形最节约材料。可谁都明白,鸟类的蛋却并非球体,而是一端大一端小的椭圆体。如大家常见的鸡、鸭、鹅等家禽和麻雀等野生鸟类的蛋都是一端大一端小的椭圆体。这是为什么呢?鸟类的蛋(学名鸟卵),最外面是蛋壳(学名卵壳),蛋壳上有很多小孔,用以保证胚体与外界的气体交换。蛋壳内有两层壳膜,壳膜内是蛋清(学名蛋白)。蛋清内是球形的蛋黄(学名卵黄,即卵子)。蛋黄是球体的而蛋为何不是球体的呢?蛋是一端大一端小的椭圆体的原因和优点有以下几点。1　与蛋的形成有关绝大…     

鸡、鸭甲状腺激素应答基因(THRSP)的研究进展

甲状腺激素应答Spot 14(Thyroid hormone responsive spot 14, THRSP)是一个参与多种脂肪合成限速酶基因表达的转录调控因子, 在动物肝脏、乳腺和脂肪组织中高度表达。家禽中鸡和鸭THRSP基因在cDNA水平均发现THRSPα和THRSPβ两种同工型, 其中鸡THRSPα基因编码区碱基的插入/缺失影响鸡体重和腹脂性状, 与鸡的生长发育和脂肪代谢有关。文章综述了鸡THRSP基因与鸭同源基因结构特性和表达差异, 以及鸡、鸭THRSP基因多态性及其遗传效应。     

珍珠颜色和贝壳珍珠层颜色研究进展

颜色及其色度均一性是衡量珍珠价值的重要指标之一。珍珠颜色及贝壳珍珠层颜色的研究涉及多个学科领域,研究表明,珍珠的颜色与制片蚌外套膜对应的珍珠层颜色相一致,而蚌的珍珠层颜色主要由遗传因素决定。现有的研究资料对珍珠层颜色形成的机理虽然还不能给出一个系统、合理的诠释,但金属元素、卟啉、类胡萝卜素和物理结构等因素可能和珍珠层颜色形成密切相关,珍珠层中含有少量以蛋白质为主的有机基质,这些蛋白调控珍珠层的结构和颜色的形成,可能是解释珍珠层颜色形成机理的关键。本文对珍珠颜色和贝壳珍珠层颜色研究进展进行系统综述,探讨珍珠颜色的影响因素及相互关联,旨在为进一步研究珍珠和贝壳珍珠层颜色提供借鉴与思路。     

iTRAQ‐Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Duck Eggshell During Biomineralization

The avian egg is a valuable model for the calcitic biomineralization process as it is the fastest calcification process occurring in nature and is a clear example of biomineralization. In this study, iTRAQ MS/MS is used to detect and study for the first time: 1) the overall duck eggshell proteome; 2) regional differences in the proteome between the inner and outer portions of the duck eggshell. The new reference protein datasets allow us to identify 179 more eggshell proteins than solely using the current release of Ensembl duck annotations. In total, 484 proteins are identified in the entire duck eggshell proteome. Twenty‐eight novel proteins of unknown function that are involved in eggshell formation are also identified. Among the identified eggshell proteins, 54 proteins show differential abundances between the inner, partially mineralized eggshell (obtained 16 h after ovulation) compared to the overall complete eggshell (normally expulsed eggshell). At least 64 of the abundant matrix proteins are common to eggshell of 4 different domesticated bird species (chicken, duck, quail, turkey) and zebra finch. This study provides a new resource for avian eggshell proteomics, and augments the inventory of eggshell matrix proteins that will lead to a deeper understanding of calcitic biomineralization.     

不同颜色光对野菊花色素溶液稳定性及类胡萝卜素含量的影响

在黑暗（对照）、红光、绿光、蓝光、黄光和白光条件下,对来源于野菊[Dendranthema indicum（Linn．）Des．Moul．]头状花序乙醚提取物的色素溶液中类胡萝卜素含量及色价和色差的变化进行了研究,并对色价和色差与贮藏时间的相关性进行了分析。结果表明：在不同颜色光照条件下,随贮藏时间（0—50d）的延长,溶液中类胡萝卜素含量及412、436和468nm特征波长下溶液的色价均呈逐渐下降的趋势,溶液的色彩参数（L＊、n＊和b＊）则呈现不同的变化规律。贮藏前后类胡萝卜素含量差异极显著（P〈0．01）且与贮藏时间呈显著负相关;在贮藏至50d时,在红光、蓝光、白光、黄光、绿光和黑暗条件下类胡萝卜素含量降幅依次为98．97％、98．33％、95．10％、92．30％、80．38％和17．02％。贮藏10—50d溶液色价均显著小于起始色价（P〈0．05）,其中,在黑暗条件下色价的变化均最小且显著高于其他处理组,而在红光照射下色价降幅最大。在黑暗条件下,溶液亮度增加、色彩变化不明显;而在其他颜色光照条件下,色素溶液均由绿转红、由黄向蓝转变,且与对照相比a＊值显著增大、b＊值显著降低（P〈0．05）,但溶液亮度总体上无显著差异（P〉O．05）。在0—50d的贮藏期内,溶液的色价和色差与储藏时间均呈线形关系,溶液的褪色规律均符合一次降解曲线。研究结果显示：野菊花所含的类胡萝卜素类色素对红光、绿光、蓝光、黄光和白光均较敏感,光照时间越长分解越激烈;在实际应用过程中这类色素应避光保存。     

滩羊裘皮毛色调控基因的研究进展

滩羊是中国裘皮来源的珍稀地方绵羊品种,以所产二毛裘皮而著称,二毛裘皮在国内外毛皮市场上均享有较高的声誉。毛色是宁夏滩羊重要的经济性状,滩羊多为体躯白色,头部有黑褐斑,个别个体黑头或体躯黑杂色,少数纯白。毛色与体内黑色素的数量、种类和分布等情况有关。掌握调控滩羊毛色基因的作用机制,可以有效控制其毛色性状。本文从滩羊的裘皮特性、毛色形成机理、毛色相关基因(MC1R基因、Agouti基因、TYR基因、MITF基因和KIT基因)的功能及选择信号检测等方面进行了综述。     

Effects of food limitation on the intensity of blue‐green and brown eggshell coloration: an experimental study with the canary

Variation in blue‐green and brown coloration of avian eggshells could be affected by several factors, including environmental nutritional constraints. Better availability of nutrients could influence the synthesis and deposition of pigments into the eggshell, so we may expect a link between the food availability during egg formation, the body condition of the female and intensity of eggshell coloration. This hypothesis has received mixed support so far: in some bird species a positive correlation between female body condition and eggshell blue‐green coloration could be demonstrated, but other studies failed to find a significant link. In this study, we experimentally limited the food availability for domestic canaries Serinus canaria prior to and during egg laying, and examined its effects on the biliverdin‐ and protoporphyrin‐based eggshell coloration. Treatment had no significant effect on eggshell blue‐green chroma and biliverdin concentration. However, we found a significant positive relationship between female body condition and eggshell background blue‐green chroma in the control group, but not in the food restricted group. Females possibly experiencing a decline in antioxidant capacity due to food limitation may not be able to produce a blue‐green eggshell colour intensity reliably indicating their body condition. Furthermore, food‐restricted canary females laid eggs with significantly higher eggshell brown chroma, spot intensity, and protoporphyrin concentration. Therefore, our results suggest that limitation in actual nutrient availability increases deposition of protoporphyrin into the eggshell, and it may also modify the association between female body condition and intensity of blue‐green eggshell coloration.     

Blue and green egg-color intensity is associated with parental effort and mating system in passerines: support for the sexual selection hypothesis

Among several adaptive explanations proposed to account for variation in avian egg color, that related to sexual selection is of particular interest because of its possible generality. Briefly, it proposes that because biliverdin (the pigment responsible for blue-green eggshell coloration) is an antioxidant, deposition in the eggshell by laying females may signal the capacity of females to control free radicals, despite the handicap of removing this antioxidant from their body. If males adjust parental effort in response to the intensity of the blue coloration of eggs, thereby investing more in the offspring of high-quality mates, blue eggs may represent a postmating sexually selected signal in females. Here, by image and spectrophotometric analyses of the eggs of European passerines, we tested two different predictions of the hypothesis. First, variables related to intraspecific variation in parental effort (i.e., the duration of the nestling period controlled for body mass) should be positively related to the intensity of blue-green color of the eggshell across species. Second, there should be a positive relationship between intensity of blue-green color of eggs and degree of polygyny. These predictions were supported: intensity of blue-green coloration (i.e., chroma) was significantly related to the duration of the nestling period and to degree of polygyny after controlling for possible confounding variables (i.e., body mass, incubation period, and nest type) and similarity due to common descent. Nest type (hole or nonhole) also explained a significant proportion of variation in egg chroma, perhaps reflecting different selection pressures (i.e., light conditions, risk of parasitism) affecting species with the two types of nests.     

Incubation and embryonic development affect the color of eggs of Mountain Bluebirds

Technological and theoretical advances over the past two decades have allowed researchers to quantify eggshell color in ways that were not previously possible. However, differences among studies in the timing of color measurements during laying or incubation and inclusion of data from inviable eggs may affect the results of these studies as well as conclusions based on comparisons among studies. To determine the effect of the timing of color measurements, we compared the color of the eggs of Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) during both laying/early incubation and late incubation. We also assessed the influence of egg viability on eggshell color by comparing viable and inviable eggs from the same clutch. We found that all color metrics investigated (blue‐green and UV chroma, brightness, and hue) were significantly different between early and late incubation, and viable and inviable eggs. However, color metrics of eggs measured during early and late incubation and of viable and inviable eggs in the same clutch were correlated. Our results suggest that the timing of color measurements and the viability of eggs have important effects on eggshell color and, therefore, in future studies, investigators should always provide information about the timing of measurements and the viability of eggs measured. Our results also suggest that comparisons among studies where eggshell color was measured at different times and/or the viability of eggs was not determined or reported are possible, given that the color metrics of viable and inviable eggs and of eggs measured at different times in our study were correlated, but those comparisons should be interpreted with caution.     

Eggshell pigmentation pattern in relation to breeding performance of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus

1. We test the consequences, in terms of breeding success and parental effort, of eggshell pigmentation pattern in a hole-nesting bird, the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus that lays eggs asymmetrically speckled with reddish spots (maculated eggs). 2. We assess the effect of distribution of spots (pigment 'spread') and spot size and pigment intensity (pigment 'darkness') on eggshell physical properties and breeding parameters concerning nestling condition, investment of parents in offspring care and reproductive output in two different habitat types: a deciduous oakwoodland and an evergreen forest. 3. Blue tit clutches with more widely distributed spots showed a thicker eggshell, a shorter incubation period, a lesser amount of mass loss per day and a higher hatching probability than those with spots forming a 'corona' ring. While eggs with larger and darker (more pigment intensity) spots showed a thicker eggshell and a shorter incubation period. In the light of 'signal function hypothesis', these egg traits may reflect female health status and, consequently, this could affect male parental effort. 4. Here we show supports for some of the necessary assumptions of this hypothesis. We found a positive relationship between egg pigment 'spread' and male but not female provisioning rates per day. On the other hand, pigment 'darkness' of blue tits' clutches was positively related to female tarsus length, while pigment 'spread' was positively related to clutch size, male body mass and nestling tarsus length. Our study shows that eggshell pigment 'spread' can be used as an indicator of clutch quality. Further investigations are needed to understand the role of calcium availability as possible causal agent of deviant eggs and its relation to the maculation phenomenon.     

Eggshells as hosts of bacterial communities: An experimental test of the antimicrobial egg coloration hypothesis

Oviparous animals have evolved multiple defenses to prevent microbes from penetrating their eggs and causing embryo mortality. In birds, egg constituents such as lysozyme and antibodies defend against microbial infestation, but eggshell pigments might also impact survival of bacteria. If so, microbes could exert an important selective pressure on the evolution of eggshell coloration. In a previous lab experiment, eggshell protoporphyrin caused drastic mortality in cultures of Gram positive, but not Gram negative, bacteria when exposed to light. Here, we test this “photodynamic antimicrobial hypothesis” in a field experiment. In a paired experimental design, we placed sanitized brown, protoporphyrin‐rich chicken eggs alongside white eggs that lack protoporphyrin. We deployed eggs for 48 hr without incubation, as can occur between laying and incubation, when microbial infection risk is highest. Eggs were placed on the open ground exposed to sunlight and in dark underground storm‐petrel burrows. We predicted that the proportion of Gram‐positive bacteria on brown eggs should be lower when exposed to sunlight than when kept in the dark, but we expected no such difference for white eggs. Although our data revealed variation in bacterial community composition, the proportion of Gram‐positive bacteria on eggshells did not vary by egg color, and there was no interaction between egg color and location. Instead, Gram‐positive bacteria were proportionally more common on eggs on the ground than eggs in burrows. Overall, our experiment did not support the photodynamic antimicrobial hypothesis. The diverse range of avian egg colors is generated by just two pigments, but over 10 hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of eggshell color. If our results are generalizable, eggshell protoporphyrin might not play a substantial role in defending eggs against microbes, which narrows the field of candidate hypotheses for the evolution of avian eggshell coloration.     

Developing preferences for live female models of the same or other species in white peking ducklings

The preferences of white Peking ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos) for live models was evaluated for the first 7 days of life. The models were all females: a rouen duck (Anas platyrhynchos), a white Peking duck, and a blue Andalusian chicken (Gallus gallus). In three different experiments the orientation of the models was toward the subjects, away from the subjects, and toward the subjects but with fences around the models (to control for model aggressiveness). In all cases the subjects preferred the rouen duck and not the white Peking model or the chicken. In addition, when the models were facing away from the subjects there was a significant peak of preference that appeared on day 4. The latter effect was replicated three times and is therefore considered a reliable phenomenon.