SEQUENCING THE GENE SPACE OF THE MODEL LEGUME, Medicago truncatula

¹ Dept of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, 495 Borlaug Hall, Saint Paul, MN 55108

² The Advanced Center for Genome Technology (ACGT), Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 620 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019

³ The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), 9712 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

⁴ Dept. of Plant Pathology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616

⁵ Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Minnesota, MMC 43, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Among legumes, Medicago truncatula is considered an outstanding model for genome research because of its compact genome, simple genetics, short generation time, reasonable transformation, and collections of mutants and ecotypes. The M. truncatula genome is known to be highly syntenic with alfalfa and pea, and moderately syntenic with soybean. A growing array of genomic tools includes a ~12X physical map, sequencing of ~150,000 BAC-ends, ~180,000 ESTs, and Noble Foundation supported work at the University of Oklahoma to sequence ~1,000 BACs. With NSF funding, we are sequencing most of the M. truncatula gene space. Cytogenetic evidence and the ~100 Mbp already available demonstrate that the genome is organized into separate gene-rich euchromatin and pericentromeric heterochromatin. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of M. truncatula’s gene space can be sequenced in a highly efficient manner. We have initiated a BAC-by-BAC strategy leading to the uninterrupted sequence of the euchromatin of M. truncatula in coordination with colleagues in Europe, who have received parallel funding from the 6th Framework Programme. Sequencing will be distributed among partners with Oklahoma sequencing chromosomes 1, 4, 6, and 8; TIGR chromosomes 2 and 7; Sanger/JIC chromosome 3; and Genoscope/INRA chromosome 5. During the course of the project, sequence data will be deposited in Genbank in a timely fashion, automated annotation will be performed and viewable through websites at Oklahoma and TIGR, and centralized access to sequencing status, map anchoring, BAC-ends, gaps and overlaps, project statistics, and feature predictions, including Ensembl interface, will be implemented at Minnesota and UC-Davis. Keywords: Medicago truncatula; Legumes; Genome Sequencing; Euchromatin