Characteristics and transferability of new apple EST-derived SSRs to other Rosaceae species

Genic microsatellites or simple sequence repeat markers derived from expressed sequence tags (ESTs), referred to as EST–SSRs, are inexpensive to develop, represent transcribed genes, and often have assigned putative function. The large apple (Malus × domestica) EST database (over 300,000 sequences) provides a valuable resource for developing well-characterized DNA molecular markers. In this study, we have investigated the level of transferability of 68 apple EST–SSRs in 50 individual members of the Rosaceae family, representing three genera and 14 species. These representatives included pear (Pyrus communis), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), European plum (P. domestica), Japanese plum (P. salicina), almond (P. dulcis), peach (P. persica), sour cherry (P. cerasus), sweet cherry (P. avium), strawberry (Fragaria vesca, F. moschata, F. virginiana, F. nipponica, and F. pentaphylla), and rose (Rosa hybrida). All 68 primer pairs gave an amplification product when tested on eight apple cultivars, and for most, the genomic DNA-derived amplification product matched the expected size based on EST (in silico) data. When tested across members of the Rosaceae, 75% of these primer pairs produced amplification products. Transferability of apple EST–SSRs across the Rosaceae ranged from 25% in apricot to 59% in the closely related pear. Besides pear, the highest transferability of these apple EST–SSRs, at the genus level, was observed for strawberry and peach/almond, 49 and 38%, respectively. Three markers amplified in at least one genotype within all tested species, while eight additional markers amplified in all species, except for cherry. These 11 markers are deemed good candidates for a widely transferable Rosaceae marker set provided their level of polymorphism is adequate. Overall, these findings suggest that transferability of apple EST–SSRs across Rosaceae is varied, yet valuable, thereby providing additional markers for comparative mapping and for carrying out evolutionary studies.     

Characterization of EST-SSRs in loblolly pine and spruce

In the first large study of conifer expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs), two large conifer EST databases were characterized for EST-SSRs. One database was from “interior spruce” (white and Engelmann spruce in Southern British Columbia) and Sitka spruce, while the other was from loblolly pine. We found 475 and 629 unique EST-SSRs in loblolly pine and spruce, respectively. 3′ ESTs contained 14% more SSRs than 5′ EST reads in loblolly pine and 41% more in spruce. Conifer EST-SSRs differed conspicuously from angiosperm EST-SSRs in several aspects. EST-SSRs were considerably less frequent in conifers (one EST-SSR every ∼50 kb) than in angiosperms (one EST-SSR every ∼20 kb). Dinucleotide repeats were the most abundant repeat class in conifers, while in angiosperms, trinucleotides were most common. Finally, the AT motif was the dominant motif recovered in both conifer species, whereas AG was the most common dinucleotide repeat in angiosperms. Also, as these EST-SSRs in conifers could be developed into useful genetic markers, our work demonstrates the value of large-scale EST sequencing projects for in-silico approaches for marker development.     

Identification of expressed sequence tags of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) leaf at the vegetative stage

A cDNA library was constructed using mRNA prepared from leaves of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum&Nakai] at the vegetative stage. Randomly selected cDNA clones were sequenced in order to identify potentially informative genes. Database comparisons indicated that out of the 704 watermelon cDNA clones, 399 clones (56.7 %) revealed a high degree of sequence similarity to genes from other organisms. These expressed sequence tag clones were divided into ten categories depending upon gene function. Since this kind of experiment has not previously been carried out in this genome, random nucleotide sequencing of these cDNAs could contribute considerable information concerning the novel genes in this organism. Received: 10 July 1999 / Revision received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 11 January 2000     

应用生物信息学技术对植物表达序列标签(EST)的大规模分析

目前 ,一些基因组较小的植物 (如拟南芥 ,水稻等 )的全基因组已经基本完成测序 ,较大基因组的测序工作则主要集中在基因组中表达基因的测序上 ,表达序列标签 (EST)计划由此产生。研究表明 ,对EST进行大规模研究已成为功能基因组学研究的最佳途经之一。本文着重介绍和讨论应用生物信息学技术对植物EST数据的大规模分析。     

大片吸虫成虫cDNA表达文库的构建及其表达序列标签初步分析

为发现潜在的抗大片吸虫病的候选疫苗分子,控制大片形吸虫病,本研究以大片吸虫成虫为材料,应用SMARTTcDNA文库构建技术,构建了以表达载体λTriplEx2为基础的大片吸虫成虫cDNA表达文库。经测定,库容量为1·08×106PFU/ml ,重组率为96·6 %,扩增后的文库滴度为2·41×109PFU/ml ,插入片段平均大小约为1 000 bp;经大肠杆菌BM25·8质粒化后,从文库中随机挑选40个重组克隆测序,获得32条有效ESTs ;经BLASTX和BLASTn程序检索和分析,发现有9条ESTs代表已知基因, 16条ESTs相似性较低或无匹配,列为新基因。9条已知基因代表了半胱氨酸蛋白酶、卵壳蛋白、钙连接蛋白等三类功能蛋白,其余新基因也暗示与信号传导、蛋白合成、免疫刺激等基因相关,具有潜在的研究价值[动物学报51 (5) : 879 -883 , 2005]。     

利用表达序列标签电子克隆cDNA全序列的策略

基因组计划的进展及表达序列标签数据的迅速扩增使得电子克隆方法孕育而生,为进行基因克隆开辟了一条新的路径。介绍了表达序列标签和电子克隆的原理及过程,重点分析电子克隆过程中遇到的问题及解决方法,展望其在新基因功能研究中的作用。     

A Genomics Approach Using Expressed Sequence Tags and Microarrays in Ripening Apple Fruit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Malus domestica</Emphasis> Borkh.)

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), an important horticultural crop, produces human health-promoting metabolites during fruit ripening. Because that process, which involves complex biochemical and physiological changes, is genetically programmed, molecular and genetic approaches have been taken to understand the associated cellular mechanisms. The release of 151,687 apple expressed sequence tags (ESTs) into a public database has made possible large-scale studies of expression. Analysis of apple ESTs allows for the identification and characterization of genes with potential roles in fruit development, particularly those related to aroma production and protein degradation during ripening. Apple cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays have been generated for more comprehensive examinations. Such tools are powerful means for elucidating the molecular events involved in metabolite biosynthesis and physiological changes and will also enable researchers to understand how to control that ripening process.     

RFLP mapping of partially sequenced leaf cDNA clones in maize

We report here the results of mapping a set of 92 leaf cDNA clones in maize. The ends of each of these cDNA clones have previously been partially sequenced, and the sequence comparison has revealed the putative function for 28 clones. It is expected that the RFLP map developed using these expressed sequence tags will be of great importance for future maize genome analysis, such as for PCR-based gene mapping or gene function identification.Contribution from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. Journal Series N. 12,019.     

Development of Polymorphic EST Markers Suitable for Genetic Linkage Mapping of Catfish

Expressed sequence tag (EST) markers are important for gene mapping and for marker-assisted selection (MAS). To develop EST markers for use in catfish gene mapping, 100 randomly picked complementary DNAs from the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) pituitary library were sequenced. The EST sequences were used to design primers to amplify channel catfish and blue catfish (I. furcatus) genomic DNAs. Polymerase chain reaction products of the ESTs were analyzed to determine length polymorphism between the channel catfish and blue catfish. Eleven polymorphic EST markers were identified. Five of the 11 EST markers were from known genes and the other six were from unidentified ESTs. Seven ESTs were found to be associated with microsatellite sequences. Analysis of channel catfish gene sequences indicated highly biased codon usage, with 16 codons being preferably used. These codons were more preferably used in highly expressed ribosomal protein genes and in highly expressed pituitary hormone genes. G/C-rich codons are less used in channel catfish than those in other vertebrates suggesting AT-richness of the channel catfish genome. Received June 29, 1998; accepted March 29, 1999.     

Development and characterization of expressed sequence tags for the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) genome and comparative sequence analysis with other birds

Twenty-one randomly selected clones from a turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) pituitary complementary DNA (cDNA) library were sequenced to develop expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for this economically important avian species whose genome is among the least understood. Primers specific for the ESTs were used to produce amplicons from the genomic DNA of turkey, chicken (Gallus gallus), guinea fowl (Numidia meleagris), pigeon (Columba domestica), and quail (Corturnix japonica). The amplicons were sequenced and analyzed for sequence variation within- and similarity among-species and with GenBank database sequences. The proportion of shared bases between the turkey sequence and the consensus sequence from each of the other species ranged from 72% to 93% between turkey and pigeon and quail and between turkey and chicken, respectively. The total number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) observed ranged from 3 in quail to 18 in chicken out of 4898 and 5265 bases analyzed, respectively. The most frequent nucleotide variation observed was a C-->T transition. Linkage analysis of one such SNP in the backcross progeny of the East Lansing reference DNA panel, localized TUS0005, the chicken sequence derived from primers specific for turkey TUT2E EST, to chromosome 4. The ESTs reported, as well as the SNPs may provide a useful resource for ongoing efforts to develop high utility genome maps for the turkey and chicken. The primers described can also be used as a tool in future investigations directed at further understanding the biology of the guinea fowl, pigeon and quail and their relatedness to the turkey.     

Sequence-tagged-site (STS) markers of arbitrary genes: the utility of black spruce-derived STS primers in other conifers

 Sequence-tagged-site primers, previously developed based upon black spruce (Picea mariana) cDNA sequences, were tested for their ability to direct specific amplification in two individuals of each of 12 additional conifer species. Nearly all (95–97%) of the primers functioned well in congeneric trials, while a lower proportion (21–33%) scored positively in other Pinaceae genera. Outside of the Pinaceae, amplification of homologous products was not achieved. Products from the various species often differed in size from their homologs in black spruce. In one case a large difference in size was due to the lack of an intron in a jack pine product while in several other cases the differences were due to the presence or absence of large direct repeats in the DNA sequences. Length polymorphism was occasionally evident between the two individuals examined of a given species. We investigated marker polymorphism in detail in a panel of 15 white spruce (Picea glauca) trees. Allelic segregation among haploid megagametophytes was revealed directly at 16 loci by standard agarose-gel electrophoresis without any additional manipulation of amplification products. Polymorphisms observed at 12 of these loci were exclusively co-dominant. For this subset of 12 loci, the average number of alleles was 3.2 and the average observed heterozygosity was 0.37. Received: 10 April 1998 / Accepted: 22 April 1998