Construction and Characterization of a 10-fold Genome Equivalent Rat P1-Derived Artificial Chromosome Library

A rat PAC library was constructed in the vector pPAC4 from genomic DNA isolated from female Brown Norway rats. This library consists of 215,409 clones arrayed in 614 384-well microtiter plates. An average insert size of 143 kb was estimated from 217 randomly isolated clones, thus representing approximately 10-fold genome coverage. This coverage provides a very high probability that the library contains a unique sequence in genome screening. Tests on randomly selected clones demonstrated that they are very stable, with only 4 of 130 clones showing restriction digest fragment alterations after 80 generations of serial growth. FISH analysis using 70 randomly chosen PACs revealed no significant chimeric clones. About 7% of the clones analyzed contained repetitive sequences related to centromeric regions that hybridized to some but not all centromeres. DNA plate pools and superpools were made, and high-density filters each containing an array of 8 plates in duplicate were prepared. Library screening on these superpools and appropriate filters with 10 single-locus rat markers revealed an average of 8 positive clones, in agreement with the estimated high genomic coverage of this library and representation of the rat genome. This library provides a new resource for rat genome analysis, in particular the identification of genes involved in models of multifactorial disease. The library and high-density filters are currently available to the scientific community.     

Construction and characterization of a bovine BAC library with four genome-equivalent coverage

A bovine artificial chromosome (BAC) library of 105 984 clones has been constructed in the vector pBeloBAC11 and organized in 3-dimension pools and high density membranes for screening by PCR and hybridization. The average insert size, determined after analysis of 388 clones, was estimated at 120 kb corresponding to a four genome coverage. Given the fact that a male was used to construct the library, the probability of finding any given autosomal and X or Y locus is respectively 0.98 and 0.86. The library was screened for 164 microsatellite markers and an average of 3.9 superpools was positive for each PCR system. None of the 50 or so BAC clones analysed by FISH was chimeric. This BAC library increases the international genome coverage for cattle to around 28 genome equivalents and extends the coverage of the ruminant genomes available at the Inra resource center to 15 genome equivalents.     

A large-insert porcine library with sevenfold genome coverage: a tool for positional cloning of candidate genes for major quantitative traits

A porcine genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was constructed by cloning partial EcoRI-digested high-molecular-weight DNA from a Korean native boar into the EcoRI site of the pBACe3.6 vector. The library consists of about 165,000 clones with an average insert size of 125 kb, representing about seven genome equivalents of coverage. About 130,000 clones (corresponding to fivefold genome coverage) were arrayed in 14 superpools which were organized as four dimensional pools. The library was further characterized by PCR screening of 38 microsatellite probes. An average of 4.84 positive clones were selected per marker. This indicates that the library is unbiased and will be useful for initiating fine scale physical mapping of major QTL in pigs. The library is being used to isolate specific clones by screening with type I and type II marker clones located in the QTL region affecting intramuscular fat content on SSC6.     

Two-dimensional screening of the Wageningen chicken BAC library

We have constructed a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library that provides 5.5-fold redundant coverage of the chicken genome. The library was made by cloning partial HindIII-digested high-molecular-weight (HMW) DNA of a female White Leghorn chicken into the HindIII site of the vector pECBAC1. Several modifications of standard protocols were necessary to clone efficiently large partial HindIII DNA fragments. The library consists of 49,920 clones arranged in 130 384-well plates. An average insert size of 134 kb was estimated from the analysis of 152 randomly selected BAC clones. The average number of NotI restriction sites per clone was 0.77. After individual growth, DNA was isolated of the pooled clones of each 384-well plate, and subsequently DNA of each plate was isolated from the individual row and column pools. Screening of the Wageningen chicken BAC library was performed by two-dimensional PCR with 125 microsatellite markers. For 124 markers at least one BAC clone was obtained. FISH experiments of 108 BAC clones revealed chimerism in less than 1%. The number of different BAC clones per marker present in the BAC library was examined for 35 markers which resulted in a total of 167 different BAC clones. Per marker the number of BAC clones varied from 1 to 11, with an average of 4.77. The chicken BAC library constitutes an invaluable tool for positional cloning and for comparative mapping studies. Received: 26 October 1999 / Accepted: 6 January 2000     

A yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library containing 10 haploid chicken genome equivalents

We report the construction of a YAC library that provides 10-fold redundant coverage of the chicken genome. The library was made by transforming S. cerevisiae AB1380 with YAC constructs consisting of partially digested and size fractionated (>465 kb) EcoRI genomic fragments ligated to pCGS966 YAC vector arms. The primary library provides 8.5-fold redundant coverage and consists of 16,000 clones arrayed in duplicate 96-well microtiter plates and gridded on nylon membranes at high density (18,000 clones/484cm²). The average insert size, 634 kb, was derived from size fractionation of a random sample of 218 YACs. Hybridization of five unlinked chicken genes to colony blots revealed six or more positive clones. This is consistent with the theoretical expectation from average insert sizes and number of clones. A second collection of clones consists of a further 20,000 colonies, of which 20% contain inserts larger than 450 kb and 80% contain only coligated vector arms. We estimate that these clones provide a further 1.5-fold redundant coverage of the chicken genome; thus, the total collection of 36,000 clones provides 10-fold redundant coverage of the chicken genome. The library is intended as a resource for fine-scale analysis of the organization of the chicken genome and is presently being used to construct a contig map of chicken Chromosome (Chr) 16, which contains the MHC and nucleolar organizer. Received: 15 July 1996 / Accepted: 20 November 1996     

Construction and extensive characterization of a goat Bacterial Artificial Chromosome library with threefold genome coverage

A goat Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library of 61,440 independent clones was constructed and characterized. The average size of the inserts was estimated at 153 kilobases by analyzing almost 500 clones using Not1 digestion followed by FIGE (Field Inverted Gel Electrophoresis) analysis. The library represents about three genome equivalents, which yields a theoretical probability of 0.95 of isolating a particular DNA sequence. After individual growth, the clones were arrayed in 40 superpools, which were organized in three dimension pools. A rapid technique for pool DNA preparation by microwave treatment was set up. This technique was compatible with PCR analysis. Primer pairs from 166 sequences (microsatellites, coding sequences from goat, and conserved Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) from humans) enabled the library to be successfully searched in 165 cases, with an average of 3.52 positive superpools. Only one sequence could not be found. The degree of chimerism was evaluated by FISH analysis with DNA from over 110 clones and was estimated at 4%. This BAC library will constitute an invaluable tool for positional cloning in ruminants, as well as for more general comparative mapping studies in mammals. Received: 2 July 1997 / Accepted: 13 September 1997     

Construction and Identification of Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Library for 0-613-2R in Upland Cotton

A bacterial artificial chromosome （BAC） library containing a large genomlc DNA insert is an important tool for genome physical mapping, map-based cloning, and genome sequencing. To Isolate genes via a map-based cloning strategy and to perform physical mapping of the cotton genome, a high-quality BAC library containing large cotton DNA Inserts Is needed. We have developed a BAC library of the restoring line 0-613-2R for Isolating the fertility restorer （Rf1） gene and genomic research in cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.）. The BAC library contains 97 825 clones stored In 255 pieces of a 384-well mlcrotiter plate. Random samples of BACs digested with the Notl enzyme Indicated that the average Insert size Is approximately 130 kb, with a range of 80-275 kb, and 95.7% of the BAC clones in the library have an average insert size larger than 100 kb. Based on a cotton genome size of 2 250 Mb, library coverage is 5.7 × haploid genome equivalents. Four clones were selected randomly from the library to determine the stability of the BAC clones. There were no different fingerprints for 0 and 100 generations of each clone digested with Notl and Hlndiii enzymes. Thus, the atabiiity of a single BAC clone can be sustained at iesat for 100 generations. Eight simple sequence repeat （SSR） markers flanking the Rf; gene were chosen to screen the BAC library by pool using PCR method and 25 positive clones were identified with 3.1 positive clones per SSR marker.     

Construction of a BAC library of pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum

A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was constructed using nuclear DNA from pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), and used as a resource for the isolation of microsatellite sequences. The library contains a total of 159,100 clones with an average insert size of 90 kb, and corresponds to 5.8 haploid genome equivalents. The BAC library was pooled for screening by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as robotically gridded on high-density filters. PCR-based screening of a subset of the library (4.7 haploid genome equivalents) using five sequence-tagged site (STS) and six microsatellite markers identified between 2 and 11 positives superpools (5.4 on average). The frequency of BAC clones carrying inserts of chloroplast DNA was estimated to be less than 1% by hybridisation with a rice chloroplast probe. Received: 30 January 2000 / Accepted: 16 October 2000     

A sunflower BAC library suitable for PCR screening and physical mapping of targeted genomic regions

A sunflower BAC library consisting of 147,456 clones with an average size of 118 kb has been constructed and characterized. It represents approximately 5× sunflower haploid genome equivalents. The BAC library has been arranged in pools and superpools of DNA allowing screening with various PCR-based markers. Each of the 32 superpools contains 4,608 clones and corresponds to a 36 matrix pools. Thus, the screening of the entire library could be accomplished in less than 80 PCR reactions including positive and negative controls. As a demonstration of the feasibility of the concept, a set of 24 SSR markers covering about 36 cM in the sunflower SSR map (Tang et al. in Theor Appl Genet 105:1124–1136, 2002) have been used to screen the BAC library. About 125 BAC clones have been identified and then organized in 23 contigs by HindIII digestion. The contigs are anchored on the SSR map and thus constitutes a first-generation physical map of this region. The utility of this BAC library as a genomic resource for physical mapping and map-based cloning in sunflower is discussed.     

Construction and characterisation of a gridded chicken cosmid library with four-fold genomic coverage

Gridded genomic libraries are crucial for the positional candidate gene approach. For this purpose we constructed a gridded genomic library from a female chicken using the vector sCos 1. About 110 000 cosmid clones were grown and replicated in 384-well plates. An average insert size of 39 kb was calculated from the analysis of 68 randomly selected clones. No chimerism could be observed from 31 in situ hybridisations. One replica of the library (number 125) has been transferred to the Resource Centre/Primary Database (RZPD) of the German Human Genome Project (DHGP). The whole library was gridded onto four nylon filters at high density for efficient identification of cosmid clones by colony hybridisation. Twenty-two probes were used for screening the library and each of them gave at least one positive signal. This result is in good agreement with a four-fold coverage of the genome as estimated from the insert length and number of recombinant clones. This library provides a powerful tool for rapid physical mapping and complex analysis of the chicken genome.     

A 5× genome coverage bovine BAC library: production, characterization, and distribution

A bovine large-insert DNA library has been constructed in a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) vector. The source DNA was derived from lymphocytes of a Jersey male. High-molecular-weight DNA fragments were produced by treatment with EcoRI/EcoRI methylase and cloned into the EcoRI site of pBACe3.6. In total, 157,240 individual BACs have been picked into 384-well plates. Approximately 190 randomly chosen clones have been characterized by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and have an average insert size of 105 kb, suggesting library coverage representing 5–6 genome equivalents. The frequency of clones without inserts is 4%. The chromosomal location of 51 BACs was studied by FISH; 3 showed more than one signal, indicating a chimerism frequency of roughly 6%. Approximately 50% of the clones in the library contain Simple Repeat Sequences (microsatellites), and 4% of the clones contain centromeric repeats. Insert stability was assessed by restriction digestion of DNA prepared from 20 clones after serial culture for one and three nights. Only one clone showed any evidence of an altered restriction pattern. Clones from 360 × 384-well plates (138,240 colonies) were gridded onto high-density membranes, and PCR superpools were produced from the same set of clones. Both membranes and superpools are available from the RZPD, Berlin (http://www.rzpd.de). PCR 4-D superpools have been prepared from an additional 23,000 clones. The library has been screened for a total of 24 single-copy sequences; positive clones have been obtained in all cases. Received: 14 October 1998 / Accepted: 9 March 1999     

Construction and evaluation of a porcine bacterial artificial chromosome library

A porcine bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library consisting of 103,488 clones has been constructed. The average insert size in the BAC vector was calculated to be 133 kb based on the examination of 189 randomly selected clones, indicating that the library contained 4.4 genome equivalents. The library can be screened by two-step PCR. The first screening step is performed on 22 superpools, each containing 4704 clones (49 x 96 well plates). In the second screening step, 49 plates comprising a superpool are arrayed in a 7 x 7 matrix and 4D-PCR is performed. Screening of the library superpools by PCR for 125 marker sequences selected from different regions of swine genome revealed 123 sequences, indicating that the library is not biased. Subsequent screenings (4D-PCR) were successfully applied for identification of clones containing each marker sequence. This porcine BAC library and the PCR screening system are useful for isolation of genomic DNA fragments containing desired sequences.     

A BAC library for the goldfish Carassius auratus auratus (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes)

A goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) bacterial artificial chromosome genomic library (BAC library) was constructed from one aquarium-bred male specimen (tetraploid, 4n=100, genome size=3.52 pg/cell). The library consists of 128,352 positive clones with an average insert size of 150.4 kb, covering the genome 11-fold. All clones were spotted onto nylon filters and thus are available for screening of genomic regions of interest, such as candidate genes, gene families, or large-sized syntenic DNA regions of cyprinid species. Preliminary screens with two genes were conducted with hybridizing probes to the genes RAG1 and lgi1. RAG1 is a single-copy gene in zebrafish and is duplicated in C. a. auratus. We found a very close correlation between the number of positive BAC clones and the expected library coverage. Two copies of lgi1 were found in zebrafish. We have detected four different copies in C. a. auratus, not in the expected abundance, which indicates some variation in the coverage of the BAC library. The preliminary screens indicate that many duplicated genes that resulted from the ancient fish-specific genome duplication persist in the tetraploid goldfish genome. Hence, the BAC library will provide a useful resource for the future work on comparative genomics, polyploidy, diploidization, and evolutionary genomics in fishes.     

Construction of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library for citrus and identification of BAC contigs containing resistance gene candidates

A BAC library was constructed from the genomic DNA of an intergeneric Citrus and Poncirus hybrid. The library consists of 24,576 clones with an average insert size of 115 kb, representing approximately seven haploid genome equivalents and is able to give a greater than 99% probability of isolating single-copy citrus DNA sequences from this library. High-density colony hybridization-based library screening was performed using DNA markers linked to the citrus tristeza virus (CTV) resistance gene and citrus disease resistance gene candidate (RGC) sequences. Between four and eight clones were isolated with each of the CTV resistance gene-linked markers, which agrees with the library’s predicted genome coverage. Three hundred and twenty-two clones were identified using 13 previously cloned citrus RGC sequences as probes in library screening. One to four fragments in each BAC were shown to hybridize with RGC sequences. One hundred and nine of the RGC BAC clones were fingerprinted using a sequencing gel-based procedure. From the fingerprints, 25 contigs were assembled, each having a size of 120–250 kb and consisting of 2–11 clones. These results indicate that the library is a useful resource for BAC contig construction and molecular isolation of disease resistance genes. Received: 22 May 2000 / Accepted: 25 September 2000     

Construction of a bacterial artificial chromosome library, determination of genome size, and characterization of an Hsp70 gene family in Phytophthora nicotianae

The oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae causes diseases on a wide range of plant species. To facilitate isolation and functional characterization of pathogenicity genes, we have constructed a large-insert bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library using nuclear DNA from P. nicotianae H1111. The library contains 10,752 clones with an average insert size of 90 kb and is free of mitochondrial DNA. The quality of the library was verified by hybridization with 37 genes, all of which resulted in the identification of multiple positive clones. The library is estimated to be 10.6 haploid genome equivalents based on hybridization of 23 single-copy genes and the genome size of P. nicotianae was estimated to be 95.5 Mb. Hybridization with a nuclear repetitive DNA probe revealed that 4.4% of clones in the library contained 28S rDNA. Hybridization of total genomic DNA to the library indicated that at least 39% of the BAC library contains repetitive DNA sequences. A BAC pooling strategy was developed for efficient library screening. The library was used to identify and characterize BAC clones containing an Hsp70 gene family whose four members were identified to be clustered within approximately 18 kb in the P. nicotianae genome based on the physical mapping of eight BACs spanning a genomic region of approximately 186 kb. The BAC library created provides an invaluable resource for the isolation of P. nicotianae genes and for comparative genomics studies.     

高覆盖率水稻ＢＡＣ库的构建及抗病基因相关克隆的筛选

利用含Ｘa4、xa5和xa13 3个水稻白叶枯病抗性基因的累加系ＩＲＢＢ５６构建了一个水稻细菌人工染色体文库,该文库包含５５２９６个克隆,平均插入升段为１３２kb。按水稻基因组为４５０Ｍb计,该文库覆盖１４倍基因组,筛选出任一水稻基因或序列的概率为９９．９９％。用均匀分布的３个叶绿体基因和４个线粒体基因克隆作探针筛选文库,结果显示该文库中含细菌器基因组ＤＮＡ同源序列的克隆数小于１％、用分布于水稻３条不同染色体、分别与Ｘa4、xa5和xa13连锁的ＤＮＡ标记筛选文库,分别检测出１１－１０６个阳性克隆,为克隆这些基因打下了基础。该文库对水稻基因组的高度覆盖率和较大的插入片段,非常适合于物理作图和基因的分离和克隆。     

Multiplicity of deoxyribonucleic acid sequences with homology to a cloned complementary deoxyribonucleic acid coding for rat phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450

We previously identified cDNA clones for rat cytochrome P-450 of the phenobarbital-inducible type by sequence analysis [Fujii-Kuriyama, Y., Mizukami, Y., Kawajiri, K., Sogawa, K., & Muramatsu, M. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 2793-2797]. With these cloned cDNAs as probe, the multiplicity of phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 gene in rat genome was investigated by three approaches. The first approach was the Cot analysis of the total rat liver DNA under conditions of DNA excess. With internal and external markers used as gene-number standards, the reassociation kinetics were studied, which suggested the presence of approximately six genes or gene-like sequences hybridizable to phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 cDNA per rat haploid genome. The second was the isolation of the cytochrome P-450 genes from a rat genomic library. From a screening of about 1 X 10(6) plaques, nine clones with an approximately 15-kb insert were isolated. Restriction maps and Southern blot analysis of the cloned DNAs showed that six out of nine isolated clones contained DNA inserts independent of one another. The third was Southern blot analysis of rat genomic DNA with restriction enzyme EcoRI. Approximately 12 positive bands were demonstrated with the cDNA probe, seven to eight of which showed the same mobilities as the fragments in the isolated six genomic clones, suggesting that some other genes or gene-like DNA sequences remained to be cloned.     

Construction and Characterization of Two Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Libraries of Grass Carp

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library is an important tool in genomic research. We constructed two libraries from the genomic DNA of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) as a crucial part of the grass carp genome project. The libraries were constructed in the EcoRI and HindIII sites of the vector CopyControl pCC1BAC. The EcoRI library comprised 53,000 positive clones, and approximately 99.94% of the clones contained grass carp nuclear DNA inserts (average size, 139.7 kb) covering 7.4× haploid genome equivalents and 2% empty clones. Similarly, the HindIII library comprised 52,216 clones with approximately 99.82% probability of finding any genomic fragments containing single-copy genes; the average insert size was 121.5 kb with 2.8% insert-empty clones, thus providing genome coverage of 6.3× haploid genome equivalents of grass carp. We selected gene-specific probes for screening the target gene clones in the HindIII library. In all, we obtained 31 positive clones, which were identified for every gene, with an average of 6.2 BAC clones per gene probe. Thus, we succeeded in constructing the desired BAC libraries, which should provide an important foundation for future physical mapping and whole-genome sequencing in grass carp.     

Construction and characterization of a sheep BAC library of three genome equivalents

A sheep BAC library of over three genome equivalents was constructed and arrayed in superpools and row, column, and plate pools. The library contains 90,000 clones distributed in 39 superpools. The average insert size was estimated at 123 kb. The library was screened by PCR with 77 primer pairs corresponding to ovine microsatellites distributed throughout the genome. The probability of finding a random sequence in the library could be estimated at 0.96. Received: 2 November 1998 / Accepted: 29 January 1999     

A Sorghum propinquum BAC library,suitable for cloning genes associated with loss-of-function mutations during crop domestication

A large insert Sorghum propinquum BAC library has been constructed to analyze the physical organization of the sorghum genome and to facilitate positional cloning of sorghum genes and QTLs associated with the early stages of grain crop domestication. This library was established from 12 different ligations using high-molecular-weight DNA generated from either one cycle or two cycles of size selection. This library consists of 38 016 BAC clones with an estimated average insert size of 126 kb and coverage of 6.6 genome equivalents. The 6.6 genome-equivalent BAC library of S. propinquum provides a 99.7% probability of finding one or more BACs that contain genes of interest. Twenty mapped DNA probes, ten homologous and ten heterologous, were used to screen the library, and 121 positive clones were identified, 6.05 per locus or 6.37 per probe.