Fig. 4: The expression profiles of Wnt signaling genes and the results of functional peturbation.

a The expression profiles of Wnts, CTNNB1, and LEF1 during the development of chicken posterior dorsal skins from D3 to D7 (n = 3 biologically independent chicken skins over 3 independent samplings). The interquartile range (IQR) of boxplot is between Q1 and Q3 and center line indicates median value. Whiskers of boxplot are extended to the maxima and minima. Maxima is Q3  +  1.5 × IQR and minima is Q1 − 1.5 × IQR. The raw data are shown in the Source Data file. b The CTNNB1 and LEF1 expression patterns in posterior dorsal skins of embryonic and D7 chicken (n = 4 biologically independent samples) and zebra finch (n = 3 biologically independent samples). LEF1 shows similar expression pattern in the natal down of the two species (indicated by red arrows). In juvenile feathers, LEF1 shows the expression gradient from anterior toward posterior direction (the expression intensities are indicated by length of the red arrows) but CTNNB1 does not. The question mark indicates that the expression profile is shielded by pigements and cannot be clearly viewed. c First panel: the H&E staning of the cross section of feather follicle with RCAS-dnLEF1 misexpression (n = 6 biologically independent samples). Second panel: the enlargement of the rachis area in the first panel. Third panel: the β-keratin immunostaining of the second panel to indicate the structural integrity of the barbs. d WISH with SHH in natal down follicle (n = 3 biologically independent samples), juvenile flight feather follicle (n = 4 biologically independent samples), and juvenile flight feather follicle with RCAS-dnLEF1 misexpressions (n = 20 biologically independent samples). θ indicates the angle between rachis and barbs. In normal juvenile flight feather the θ values is 9.27° while in RCAS-dnLEF1 misexpressed feather follicle the θ values is 7°. Scale bar: 100 µm.