Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X Conference

January 12-16, 2002
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Poster: Genome Sequencing & ESTs
            

A CANADIAN WHEAT EST INITIATIVE

¹ Cereal Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 195 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2M9

A total of four wheat cDNA libraries were constructed and partially sequenced. The first library was constructed from 2 week-old leaf tissue of NIL Thatcher Lr1. RNA was extracted 24 hours after inoculation with the leaf rust pathogen race BBB carrying the Avr1 gene. The other three cDNA libraries were constructed from developing seeds of extra-strong wheat cultivar Glenlea at five, fifteen and twenty-five days after anthesis. More than 8000 ESTs were generated from the Thatcher Lr1 cDNA library. A total of 5000-6000 ESTs were obtained from each of the three seed cDNA libraries. An automated pipeline for sequence analysis was developed and a database (db) was constructed. The db was mined for genes involved in disease resistance, signal transduction and defense response genes. Microarrays were designed, constructed and hybridized. Up and down regulated genes following infection were identified. The db was also mined for seed storage protein genes. A UniGene set of ESTs was developed for high- and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits.