通往个性化医疗的新一代测序技术：Ion Torrent

自1977年第一代Sanger测序法诞生以来,测序技术经历了突飞猛进的发展,第二代和第三代测序技术相继出现。随着测序仪代次的更迭,实现测序目的的技术权重已逐渐由偏重生化反应转向偏重物理学、材料学等非生物学科。Life Technologies公司推出的Ion Torrent Personal Genomic Machine（PGM）就是这类技术转型的代表。我们对测序技术的发展和Ion TorrentPGM的特点及应用做简要综述。     

Emerging tools for synthetic genome design

Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline for designing and synthesizing predictable, measurable, controllable, and transformable biological systems. These newly designed biological systems have great potential for the development of cheaper drugs, green fuels, biodegradable plastics, and targeted cancer therapies over the coming years. Fortunately, our ability to quickly and accurately engineer biological systems that behave predictably has been dramatically expanded by significant advances in DNA-sequencing, DNA-synthesis, and DNA-editing technologies. Here, we review emerging technologies and methodologies in the field of building designed biological systems, and we discuss their future perspectives.     

高通量测序技术在动植物研究领域中的应用

高通量测序是核酸测序研究的一次革命性技术创新, 该技术以极低的单碱基测序成本和超高的数据产出量为特征, 为基因组学和后基因组学研究带来了新的科研方法和解决方案. 在动植物研究领域, 高通量测序引领了一次具有里程碑意义的科学研究模式革新, 科研人员可利用该技术在基因组、转录组和表观基因组等领域展开多层次多方面多水平研究. 本文就高通量测序技术应用于动植物基因组学和功能基因组学研究进展进行了系统阐述, 并对当前高通量测序技术的现状和热点及未来的发展趋势作了深入剖析和讨论.     

Next-generation sequencing and syntenic integration of flow-sorted arms of wheat chromosome 4A exposes the chromosome structure and gene content

Wheat is the third most important crop for human nutrition in the world. The availability of high-resolution genetic and physical maps and ultimately a complete genome sequence holds great promise for breeding improved varieties to cope with increasing food demand under the conditions of changing global climate. However, the large size of the bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) genome (approximately 17 Gb/1C) and the triplication of genic sequence resulting from its hexaploid status have impeded genome sequencing of this important crop species. Here we describe the use of mitotic chromosome flow sorting to separately purify and then shotgun-sequence a pair of telocentric chromosomes that together form chromosome 4A (856 Mb/1C) of wheat. The isolation of this much reduced template and the consequent avoidance of the problem of sequence duplication, in conjunction with synteny-based comparisons with other grass genomes, have facilitated construction of an ordered gene map of chromosome 4A, embracing ≥85% of its total gene content, and have enabled precise localization of the various translocation and inversion breakpoints on chromosome 4A that differentiate it from its progenitor chromosome in the A genome diploid donor. The gene map of chromosome 4A, together with the emerging sequences of homoeologous wheat chromosome groups 4, 5 and 7, represent unique resources that will allow us to obtain new insights into the evolutionary dynamics between homoeologous chromosomes and syntenic chromosomal regions.     

基因组选择技术在农业动物育种中的应用

基因组选择(genomic selection, GS)是畜禽经济性状遗传改良的重要方法。随着高密度SNP芯片和二代测序价格的下降,GS技术越来越多被应用于奶牛、猪、鸡等农业动物育种中。然而,降低全基因组SNP分型成本、提高基因组育种值(genomic estimated breeding value,GEBV)估计准确性仍然是GS研究的主要难题。本文从全基因组SNP分型策略和GEBV估计模型两个方面进行了综述,并对目前GS技术在主要畜禽品种中的应用现状进行了介绍,以期为GS在农业动物育种中的深入开展提供借鉴和参考。     

Old can be new again: HAPPY whole genome sequencing, mapping and assembly

During the last three decades, both genome mapping and sequencing methods have advanced significantly to provide a foundation for scientists to understand genome structures and functions in many species. Generally speaking, genome mapping relies on genome sequencing to provide basic materials, such as DNA probes and markers for their localizations, thus constructing the maps. On the other hand, genome sequencing often requires a high-resolution map as a skeleton for whole genome assembly. However, both genome mapping and sequencing have never come together in one pipeline. After reviewing mapping and next-generation sequencing methods, we would like to share our thoughts with the genome community on how to combine the HAPPY mapping technique with the new-generation sequencing, thus integrating two systems into one pipeline, called HAPPY pipeline. The pipeline starts with preparation of a HAPPY panel, followed by multiple displacement amplification for producing a relatively large quantity of DNA. Instead of conventional marker genotyping, the amplified panel DNA samples are subject to new-generation sequencing with barcode method, which allows us to determine the presence/absence of a sequence contig as a traditional marker in the HAPPY panel. Statistical analysis will then be performed to infer how close or how far away from each other these contigs are within a genome and order the whole genome sequence assembly as well. We believe that such a universal approach will play an important role in genome sequencing, mapping, and assembly of many species; thus advancing genome science and its applications in biomedicine and agriculture.     

Next-generation sequencing for identifying new genes in rare genetic diseases: many challenges and a pinch of luck

A report on the European Society of Human Genetics conference, held in Paris, France, June 8-11, 2013.     

小麦及其近缘种中基因组特异性DNA重复序列的研究进展

本文对小麦族植物中基因组特异性DNA重复序列的分类、基本特征、分离和鉴定方法、在小麦遗传改良中的应用以及未来研究的发展趋势进行了简述。综合已有的研究结果可以看出基因组特异性DNA重复序列是小麦族植物基因组特异性形成的重要构成部分。对基因组特异性DNA重复序列的研究是认识小麦族植物基因组的有效途径之一,基因组特异性DNA重复序列的应用将进一步促进小麦族植物分子细胞遗传学和普通小麦遗传改良研究的进展。Advances in Studies of Genome-Specific Repetitive DNA Sequences in Wheat and Related SpeciesBAI Jian-rong1,2,JIA Xu1,WANG Dao-wen11.The State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering,Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology,The Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China;2.Crop Genetics Institute,Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Taiyuan 030031,ChinaAbstract:In this paper we review recent advances in studies of several aspects of genome specific repetitive DNA sequences in wheat and related species.The available results demonstrate that genome specific repetitive DNA sequences are important components of genome specificity in wheat and related species.Research on genome specific repetitive DNA sequences is essential to the elucidation of genome function.The application of genome specific repetitive DNA sequences will aid molecular cytogenetic studies in wheat and related species and contributes to genetic improvement of common wheat.Key words：wheat;genome specific repetitive DNA sequence;chromosome     

Complete genome of a dengue virus serotype 4 strain from Amazonas, Brazil

Dengue virus (DENV) infections represent a significant concern for public health worldwide, being considered as the most prevalent arthropod-borne virus regarding the number of reported cases. In this study, we report the complete genome sequencing of a DENV serotype 4 isolate, genotype II, obtained in the city of Manaus, directly from the serum sample, applying Ion Torrent sequencing technology. The use of a massive sequencing technology allowed the detection of two variable sites, one in the coding region for the viral envelope protein and the other in the nonstructural 1 coding region within viral populations.     

Corolla Is a Novel Protein That Contributes to the Architecture of the Synaptonemal Complex of Drosophila

In most organisms the synaptonemal complex (SC) connects paired homologs along their entire length during much of meiotic prophase. To better understand the structure of the SC, we aim to identify its components and to determine how each of these components contributes to SC function. Here, we report the identification of a novel SC component in Drosophila melanogaster female oocytes, which we have named Corolla. Using structured illumination microscopy, we demonstrate that Corolla is a component of the central region of the SC. Consistent with its localization, we show by yeast two-hybrid analysis that Corolla strongly interacts with Cona, a central element protein, demonstrating the first direct interaction between two inner-synaptonemal complex proteins in Drosophila. These observations help provide a more complete model of SC structure and function in Drosophila females.