Deoxyribonuclease 2 (DNase 2) is an enzyme that plays an important role in programmed cell death, or apoptosis, and is often found in the acidic regions of the cell, specifically the lysosomes. There are two known types of DNase 2: DNase 2𝛼 and DNase 2𝛽. Both enzymes provide important functions in cell development and death. DNase 2𝛼 was found to be indispensable to life with the knockout mice dying in utero or shortly after birth from severe anemia (Kawane et al., 2001). DNase 2𝛽 knockout mice, however, showed no mortal consequences and were born with cataracts due to cloudy optical lenses (Nishimoto et al., 2003). From previous studies by Fitchburg State University undergraduates, it was discovered that bird genomes contain DNase 2𝛽 but not DNase 2𝛼, which prompted our question how avian life can survive without DNase 2𝛼. Two potential new exons—X1 and X2— have been discovered in the DNase 2𝛽 gene. If these exons can be confirmed, they could create a new DNase 2𝛽 transcript that could make a DNase 2𝛽 protein with DNase 2𝛼 activity, thus allowing the survival of chickens in spite of not having the DNase 2𝛼 gene.

Using molecular techniques (5’ RACE, PCR, PCR cloning, sequencing) we are confirming X1 and X2 and mapping the 5’ end of DNase 2𝛽 mRNA transcripts in a variety of different chicken tissues.