Description of 31 YAC contigs spanning the majority of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 5

In order to generate a physical map of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 5, 142 molecular markers mapping to chromosome 5 have been used in colony hybridization experiments with four Arabidopsis, ecotype Columbia, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries. This resulted in 634 YAC clones being anchored on chromosome 5. Southern blot analysis confirmed their positioning and provided data, which along with knowledge of the sizes of all the YAC clones, enabled the clones to be arranged into 31 contigs. Genetic mapping of markers located within 29 of these contigs on the Landsberg erecta/Columbia recombinant inbred lines allowed positioning of the contigs along the chromosome. A high proportion of the YAC clones were found to contain chimaeric inserts. The availability of this YAC contig map will accelerate chromosome-walking experiments, provide substrates for large-scale genomic sequencing projects and facilitate the mapping of new probes to this chromosome.     

Genes and genomes: Towards construction of an overlapping YAC library of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome

Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale cress, Arabidopsis) is an ideal model organism for the molecular genetic analysis of many plant processes. The availability of a complete physical map would greatly facilitate the gene cloning steps in these studies. The small genome size of Arabidopsis makes the construction of such a map a feasible goal. One of the approaches to construct an overlapping library of the Arabidopsis genome takes advantage of the many mapped markers and the availability of Arabidopsis yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries. Mapped molecular markers are used to identify corresponding YAC clones and thereby place them on the genetic map. Subsequently, these YAC clones provide the framework for directed walking experiments aimed at closing the gaps between the YAC contigs. Adopting this strategy, YAC clones comprising about 10% of the genome have been assigned to the top halves of Arabidopsis chromosomes 4 and 5. Extensive walking experiments in a 10 cM interval of chromosome 4 have resulted in two contiguous regions in the megabase size range.     

Construction of a YAC library from barley cultivar Franka and identification of YAC-derived markers linked to the Rh2 gene conferring resistance to scald (Rhynchosporium secalis).

The Rh2 resistance gene of barley (Hordeum vulgare) confers resistance against the scald pathogen (Rhynchosporium secalis). A high-resolution genetic map of the Rh2 region on chromosome I (7H) was established by the use of molecular markers. Tightly linked markers from this region were used to screen existing and a newly constructed yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library of barley cv. Franka composed of 45,000 clones representing approximately two genome equivalents. Corresponding YAC clones were identified for most markers, indicating that the combined YAC library has good representation of the barley genome. The contiguous sets of YAC clones with the most tightly linked molecular markers represent entry points for map-based cloning of this resistance gene.     

Generation of high-density DNA markers from yeast artificial chromosome DNA by single unique primer-polymerase chain reaction

We have developed a method for the whole sequence amplification of yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) DNA excised from preparative pulsed-field gel electrophoresis using single unique primer-polymerase chain reaction procedures. We used seven contiguous YAC clones, which span 2 Mbp of the Huntington disease gene region on 4p16.3, to amplify the YAC DNAs. The average size of the amplified DNA was ∼300 bp long, and 12 DNA markers located on the YAC clones positively hybridized with these amplified products, implying that the sequences of the YAC clones were comprehensively amplified by our procedures. These amplified YAC DNAs greatly facilitate the characterization of YAC clones, leading to the detailed analysis of the defined chromosomal region.     

Construction of YAC Contigs on Rice Chromosome 5

A physical map of rice chromosome 5 was constructed with yeastartificial chromosome (YAC) clones along a high-resolution molecularlinkage map carrying 118 DNA markers distributed over 123.7cM of genomic DNA. YAC clones have been identified by colonyand Southern hybridization for 105 restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (RFLP) markers and by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) screening for 8 sequence-tagged site (STS) markers and5 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Of 458YACs, 235 individual YACs with an average insert length of 350kb were selected and ordered on chromosome 5 from the YAC library.Forty-eight contigs covering nearly 21 Mb were formed on thechromosome 5; the longest one was 6 cM and covered 1.5 Mb. Thelength covered with YAC clones corresponded to 62% of the totallength of chromosome 5. There were many multicopy sequencesof expressed genes on chromosome 5. The distribution of manycopies of these expressed gene sequences was determined by YACSouthern hybridization and is discussed. A physical map withthese characteristics provides a powerful tool for elucidationof genome structure and extraction of useful genetic informationin rice.     

Physical Mapping of Rice Chromosomes 8 and 9 with YAC Clones

First efforts for physical mapping of rice chromosomes 8 and9 were carried out by ordering YAC clones of a rice genomicDNA library covering six genome equivalents with mapped DNAmarkers. A total of 79 and 74 markers from chromosomes 8 and9, respectively, were analyzed by YAC colony and Southern hybridizationusing RFLP markers of cDNA and genomic clones, and by polymerasechain reaction (PCR) screening using PCR-derived and sequence-taggedsite (STS) markers. As a result, 252 YAC clones were confirmedto contain the mapped DNA fragments on both chromosomes. A contigmap was constructed by ordering these YAC clones and about 53%and 43% genome coverage was obtained for chromosomes 8 and 9,respectively, assuming a YAC clone size of 350 kb and overlapbetween neighboring YACs of 50%. A continuous array of YAC cloneswith minimum overlap gave a total size of 18.9 Mb for chromosome8 and 15.6 Mb for chromosome 9, which are close to previousestimates. These contig maps may provide valuable informationthat can be useful in understanding chromosome structure andisolating specific genes by map-based cloning.     

Yeast Artificial Chromosome Clones of Rice Chromosome 2 Ordered Using DNA Markers

Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones were ordered for thephysical mapping of rice chromosome 2, the last of the 12 ricechromosomes to be assigned YACs by the Rice Genome ResearchProgram. A total of 128 restriction fragment length polymorphismmarkers and 4 sequence-tagged site (STS) markers located onour high-density genetic map were used for YAC clone landing.By colony/Southern hybridization and polymerase chain reactionscreening, a total of 239 individual YACs were selected fromour YAC library of 6934 clones covering six genome equivalents.The YACs located on the corresponding marker positions in thelinkage map formed 43 contigs and islands and were estimatedto encompass about 50% of the length of rice chromosome 2.     

Analysis of the occurrence and nature of repeated DNA in an 850 kb region of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 4

The occurrence and nature of repeated DNA sequences has been analysed within an 850 kb YAC contig on Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 4. Hybridization analysis with seven RFLP markers, six cosmid contigs, 29 YAC end probes and eight YAC clones showed that a least 585 kb of the 850 kb contained only low-copy sequences. One YAC end probe, EG15C8LE, hybridized to multiple genomic fragments and contained a sequence with predicted protein homology to cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Another one, EG11B7RE, was found to be non-contiguous with the other YAC clones and contained a dispersed repetitive sequence associated with centromeric regions     

Construction and characterization of a YAC library with a lowfrequency of chimeric clones from flow-sorted human chromosome 9

Human chromosome 9 DNA, flow-sorted from somaticcell hybrid PK-87-9, has been used to construct two complete digest YAC libraries. The combined representation of chromosome 9 in these libraries, estimated by hybridization of chromosome 9-specific sequences to YAC colony grids, is 95%. The frequency of chimeric clones, analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization of chromosome 9 YACs to human metaphase chromosomes, was estimated to be 4%. These libraries provide a resource for physical mapping and for moving from genetic markers to disease loci on chromosome 9.     

A YAC contig map of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 3

We have constructed a YAC contig map of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 3. From an estimated total size of 25 Mb, about 21 Mb were covered by 148 clones arranged into nine YAC contigs, which represented most of the low-copy regions of the chromosome. YAC clones were anchored with 259 molecular markers, including 111 for which linkage information was previously available. Most of the genetic map was included in the YAC coverage, and more than 60% of the genetic markers from the reference recombinant inbred line map were anchored, giving a high level of integration between the genetic and physical maps. The submetacentric structure of the chromosome was confirmed by physical data; 3R (the top arm of the linkage map) was about 12 Mb, and 3L (the bottom arm of the linkage map) was about 9 Mb. This YAC physical map will aid in chromosome walking experiments and provide a framework for large-scale DNA sequencing of chromosome 3.     

Assignment of YAC Clones Spanning Rice Chromosomes 10 and 12

Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones were assigned on rice(Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) chromosomes 10 and 12 usingDNA markers from our high-density linkage map. Out of 1,383markers localized in this genetic map, 68 and 74 markers werelocated on chromosomes 10 and 12, respectively. Screening ofthe YAC genomic library was conducted by colony hybridizationand Southern hybridization using restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (RFLP) markers or by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using sequence-tagged site (STS) markers. We have completedthe screening of 68 markers on chromosome 10 and 74 markerson chromosome 12. A total of 134 and 103 YACs were assignedto chromosomes 10 and 12, respectively, with an estimated coverageof more than 60% for chromosome 10 and about 47% for chromosome12. As rice is considered a model plant for genome analysis,the ordered YAC clones on chromosomes 10 and 12 as well as otherchromosomes will certainly be helpful for isolation of agronomicallyand biologically important genes and for understanding the genomestructure of these chromosomes.     

Application of restriction fragment fingerprinting with a rice microsatellite sequence to assembling rice YAC clones.

To refine the current physical map of rice, we have established a restriction fragment fingerprinting method for identifying overlap between pairs of rice yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones and defining the physical arrangement of YACs within contiguous fragments (contigs). In this method, Southern blots of rice YAC DNAs digested with a restriction endonuclease are probed with a rice microsatellite probe, (GGC)5. The probe produces a unique fingerprint profile characteristic of each YAC clone. The profile is then digitized, processed in a computer, and a statistic that represents the degree of overlap between two YACs is calculated. The statistics have been used to detect overlaps among YAC clones, thereby filling a gap between two neighbouring contigs and organizing overlapping rice YAC clones into contiguous fragments. We applied this method to rearranging YACs that had previously been assigned to rice chromosome 6 by anchoring with RFLP markers.     

野败型水稻细胞质雄性不育恢复基因Rf-4的分子标记定位

为了用分子标记准确定位野败型水稻细胞质雄性不育恢复基因Rf-4,将日本水稻基因组项目（Rice Genome Program,RGP)构建的水稻遗传连锁图谱第10染色体分子遗传图上的分子标记R1877和G2155之间对应区域YAC物理图上的6个YAC克隆进行了亚克隆,获得119个片段,对这些探针进行多态性探查,获得了2个多态分子标记,用珍汕97A和恢复基因近等基因系的杂种F2分离群体中的117完全不育株进行连锁分析表明,从YAC4892获得的亚克隆Y3－8与Rf－4座位的连锁距离为0．9cM,从YAC4630获得的亚克隆Y1－10与Rf－4座位的连锁距离为3．2cM,根据以上结果把Rf－4座位定位于第10染色体的特定位置,为该基因的分子标记辅助选择和定位克隆打下了基础。     

A Fine Physical Map of Arabidopsis thaliana Chromosome 5: Construction of a Sequence-ready Contig Map

A fine physical map of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 5 wasconstructed by ordering the clones from YAC, P1, TAC and BAClibraries of the genome using the sequences of a variety ofgenetic and EST markers and terminal sequences of clones. Themarkers used were 88 genetic markers, 13 EST markers, 87 YACend probes, 100 YAC subclone end probes, and 390 end probesof P1, TAC and BAC clones. The entire genome of chromosome 5,except for the centromeric and telomeric regions, was coveredby two large contigs 11.6 Mb and 14.2 Mb long separated by thecentromeric region. The minimum tiling path of the chromosomewas constituted by a total of 430 P1, TAC and BAC clones. Themap information is available at the Web site http://www.kazusa.or.jp/arabi/.     

Construction of a potato YAC library and identification of clones linked to the disease resistance loci R1 and Gro1

 A yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library was constructed from high-molecular-weight DNA of potato (Solanum tuberosum). Potato DNA fragments obtained after complete digestion with four different rare-cutter restriction enzymes were cloned using the pYAC-RC vector. The library consists of 21 408 YAC clones with an average insertion size of 140 kb. The frequency of YAC clones having insertions of chloroplast or mitochondrial DNA was estimated to be 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. The YAC library was screened by PCR with 11 DNA markers detecting single genes or small gene families in the potato genome. YACs for 8 of the 11 markers were detected in the library. Using 2 markers that are linked to the resistance genes R1 and Gro1 of potato, we isolated two individual YAC clones. One of these YAC clones was found to harbour one member of a small family of candidate genes for the nematode resistance gene Gro1. Received : 5 May 1997 / Accepted : 20 May 1997     

A Physical Map of Arabidopsis thaliana Chromosome 3 Represented by Two Contigs of CIC YAC, P1, TAC and BAC Clones

We have constructed a physical map of Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome3 by ordering the clones from CIC YAC, P1, TAC and BAC librariesusing the sequences of a variety of genetic and EST markersand terminal sequences of clones. The markers used were 112DNA markers, 145 YAC end sequences, and 156 end sequences ofP1, TAC and BAC clones. The entire genome of chromosome 3, exceptfor the centromeric and telomeric regions, was covered by twolarge contigs, 13.6 Mb and 9.2 Mb long. This physical map willfacilitate map-based cloning experiments as well as genome sequencingof chromosome 3. The map and end sequence information are availableon the KAOS (Kazusa Arabidopsis data Opening Site) web siteat http://www.kazusa.or.jp/arabi/.     

Mapping of quantitative trait locus related to submergence tolerance in rice with aid of chromosome walking.

The major QTL for submergence tolerance was locate in the 5.9 cM interval between flanking RFLP markers. To narrow down this region, a physical map was constructed using YAC and BAC clones. A 400-kb YAC was identified in this region and later its end fragments were used to screen a rice BAC library. Through chromosome walking, 24 positive BAC clones formed two contigs around linked-RFLP markers, R1164 and RZ698. Using one YAC end, six BAC ends and three RFLP markers, a fine-scale map was constructed of the 6.8-cM interval of S10709-RZ698 on rice chromosome 9. The submergence tolerance and related trait were located in a small, well-defined region around BAC-end marker 180D1R and RFLP marker R1164. The physical-to-map distance ratio in this region is as small as 172.5 kb/cM, showing that this region is a hot spot for recombination in the rice genome.     

Identification of a YAC clone carrying the Xa-1 allele, a bacterial blight resistance gene in rice

Map-based cloning methods have been applied for isolation of Xa-1, one of the bacterial blight resistance genes in rice.Xa-1 was previously mapped on chromosome 4 using molecular markers. For positional cloning of Xa-1, a high-resolution genetic map was made for theXa-1 region using an F₂ population of 402 plants and additional molecular markers. Three restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers, XNpb235, XNpb264 and C600 were found to be linked tightly to Xa-1, with no recombinants, and U08 ₇₅₀ was mapped 1.5 cM from Xa-1. The screening of a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library using theseXa-1-linked RFLP markers resulted in the identification of ten contiguous YAC clones. Among these, one YAC clone, designated Y5212, with an insert of 340 kb, hybridized with all three tightly linked markers. This YAC was confirmed to possess the Xa-1 allele by mapping the Xa-1 gene between both end clones of this YAC (Y5212R and Y5212L).