International Workshop

Towards Building a Global Rice Gene Machine

November 11th -12th, 2002

CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia

 

Plant Industry Rice Functional Genomics Project Home

 

Workshop Home           Workshop Report  

 

PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS

Sunday, November 10th, 2002, Reception at Canberra Rex Hotel (6:30 – 8:30 pm)

Monday, November 11th , 2002, Morning Sessions

9:00 am

Inauguration – Jim Peacock

9:10 am

Setting the scene – Narayana M. Upadhyaya

Session 1

Gene knockout systems – T-DNA

Chair: Ko Shimamoto                          Rapporteur: Chang-deok Han

9:20 am

Emmanuel Guiderdoni  Abstract

A genome-wide library of insertion lines in rice: distribution of T-DNA inserts over the rice genome

9:45 am

Su-May Yu  Abstract

T-DNA Insertional Mutagenesis for Rice Functional Genomics

10:05 am

Andrew Eamens  Abstract

A duel orientation T-DNA-cum-Ac/Ds gene trap system

10:20 am

General Discussion   Report

Morning Tea 10:30 -10:50 am

Session 2

Gene knockout systems – Ac/Ds

Chair: Liz Dennis                                    Rapporteur: Michael Ayliffe

10:50 am

Kinya Toriyama   Abstract

Induction of independent Ds transposition using meiosis-associated promoters in transgenic rice

11:15 am

Ramachandran Srinivasan    Abstract

An Efficient Transposon Tagging in Rice and Large-Scale Analysis of the Ds Flanking Sequences

11:40 am

Andy Pereira   Abstract

EU consortium on rice transposon mutagenesis

12:05 pm

Chang-deok Han  Abstract

Transposon Ac/Dsmediated gene trap systems for rice functional genomics in Korea

12:30 pm

Narayana M. Upadhyaya    Abstract

Can we produce a substantial “Rice Gene Machine” using the Ac/Ds system?

12:55 pm

General Discussion  Report

Lunch 1:05-2:00 pm

 


 

Monday, November 11th , 2002, Afternoon Sessions

Session 3

Retrotransposons, Naturally occurring alleles & Deletion mutants

Chair: Moo Young Eun                         Rapporteur: N.M. Upadhyaya

2:00 pm

Hirohiko Hirochika    Abstract

Insertional mutagenesis in rice using the endogenous retrotransposon

2:25 pm

Discussion

2:30 pm

Hei Leung    Abstract

Deletion and point mutation stocks for forward and reverse genetics in rice

2:55 pm

Discussion    Report

Session 4

Gene Silencing

Chair: Eric Huttner                       Rapporteur: Ming-Bo Wang

3:00 pm

Peter Waterhouse - RNAi in Plants    Abstract

3:25 pm

Ko Shimamoto  Abstract

RNAi as a complementing method for functional genomics of rice

3:50 pm

Chris Helliwell  Abstract               

High throughput gene silencing in plants

4:05 pm

Discussion  Report

 

Afternoon Tea 4:15 to 4:35 pm

Session 5

Transgenomics and TraitMill                                                                        

Chair: Georges Freyssinet              Rapporteur: Chris Helliwell

4:35 pm

Andrzej Kilian  Abstract

TransGenomics: a platform for gene discovery, candidate gene validation and molecular breeding

5:00 pm

Discussion                                        

5:05 pm

Stephanie von Gavel  Abstract

TraitMill - high throughput phenotypic evaluation in rice

5:25 pm

Discussion  Report

Session 6

Expression Profiling

Chair: Robert Henry                             Rapporteur: Iain Wilson

5:30 pm

Rudy Dolferus  Abstract

Molecular basis of cold-induced male sterility

5:45 pm

Naoki Kishimoto  Abstract

Rice functional genomics via cDNA microarray

6:00 pm

Junshi Yazaki  Abstract

Rice functional genomics via cDNA microarray: Rice expression database and the analysis of hormone response genes

6:15 pm

Nijat Imin    Abstract

Protein profiling of male gametophyte development and its response to low temperature stress in rice

6:30 pm

Discussion  Report

6:40- 7:30 pm

Informal discussions and response to online observers – Industry link room

8:00 pm

Dinner, Blue Elephant Indian Restaurant, 29, Lonsdale Street, Canberra City

 

Tuesday , November 12th , 2002      Morning Sessions

8:30 am

V.M Patell   Abstract

Rice work at Avesthagen

Session 8

8.45  am

Bioinformatics for “Rice Gene Machine”

Chair: Bill Crosby                      Rapporteur: Gavin Kennedy

8:50 am

Narayana Upadhyaya & Leakha Henry -  CSIRO Plant Industry Abstract

Towards developing a web-based "Rice Gene Machine Information Management System (RGMIMS)

9:05 am

Christophe Perin.- CIRAD    Abstract

An overview of Rice Bioinformatics at CIRAD-Biotrop

9:15 am

Yue-ie Hsing  Abstract

Introduction to Taiwan Rice Insertional Mutants (TRIM) database

9:25 am

Tim LittlejohnBiolateral   Abstract

Bioinformatics skills for the plant genomicist

9:35 am

Bal A. Antonio -  RGP Japan Abstract

Map-based rice genomics through INE

9.45 am

Andrzej Kilian- CAMBIA Abstract

9:55 am

Bill Crosby - PBI Canada  Abstract

Open Source Initiatives for the Integration of Functional Genomics Data

10:10 am

Panel discussion  Report

Morning Tea 10:30-10:50 am

Session 9

 

10:50 am

Logistics of “Global Rice Gene Machine” Panel Discussion  Report

Chair: V. Sundaresan                     Rapporteur: Andrew Eamens          

Members: Representatives from each group and other interested participants

12:00 noon

Plant Industry facility and Discovery Centre tour

 


 

Tuesday, November 12th , 2002, Afternoon Sessions

Session 7

 

Case studies of gene identification using FG tools

Chair: Mathew Morell                       Rapporteur : Xue-Rong Zhou

2:00 pm

Qianhao Zhu  Abstract

Ds tagged rice mutant defective in anther dehiscence

2:10 pm

Marcia Margis   Abstract

GA responsive dwarf mutant defective in a early step of GA biosynthesis pathway

2:20 pm

H. Hirochika

2:30  pm

CD. Han

2.40   pm

Discussion   Report

Session 10

2:50 pm

Feed back and questions from Remote Observer

Moderator: N.M. Upadhyaya

Session 11

 

 

Views of outsiders/new comers  Report

Chair: Bal A. Antonio                                Rapporteur: Leakha Henry

                                           

3:00 pm

Joost van Dongen – Max Planck, Germany  Abstract

Mutagenesis as a tool for investigating carbohydrate metabolism in Rice

3:10 pm

Tayyab Husnain – CEMB, Pakistan  Abstract

Search of drought tolerant gene(s) and their over expression in Indica basmati rice

3:20 pm

Laurie G. Lewin   Abstract

The rice gene machine - A breeder's perspective

3:30 pm

 Peter Langridge

The rice gene machine -  A wheat and barley  researcher’s perspective

Afternoon Tea 3:40 -4:10 pm

4:10 pm

Where to from here? Panel discussion  Report

Chair: Liz Dennis/Narayana Upadhyaya                    Rapporteur: Qianhao Zhu

Members: Representatives from each group and invited guest members

5:10 pm

Workshop Conclusion

 

 


SESSION – 1: GENE KNOCKOUT SYSTEMS – T-DNA

Back to Program

Speaker – 1:   Emmanuel Guiderdoni

 

Title:               A genome-wide library of insertion lines in rice: distribution of T-DNA inserts over the rice genome.

 

Authors:          Christophe Sallaud1, Céline Gay2, Pierre Larmande1, Emmanuelle Bourgeois1, Benoit Piégu3, Farid Regad1, Martine Bès1, Alexander Johnson5, Pietro Piffanelli1, Christophe Périn1, Alain Ghesquière4, Mark Tester5, Jullian Hibberd5, Michel Delseny3 and Emmanuel Guiderdoni1.

 

Affiliation:      1. Cirad-Amis and 2. Inra-Ensam, Biotrop program, UMR1096, Avenue Agropolis, F-34398
     Montpellier Cedex 5, France

3. Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR5096, CNRS/UP, 52, avenue de
    Villeneuve, F-66860, Perpignan Cedex

4. Genetrop, Ird, BP5045, F-34032 Montpellier Cedex 01, France

5. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St,Cambridge CB2 3EA,
   
UK

 

Abstract:         In the framework of the genomics initiative Génoplante, we have embarked on a project of creation of a genome-wide library of insertion lines of rice (Oryza sativa L. japonica cv. Nipponbare). The generation of the library relies first on a highly efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedure for delivery of T-DNA inserts (Sallaud et al. Theor Appl Genet, in press). This method allowed the production of 30,000 primary transformants (T0) with an average efficiency of 5 independent transformation events per co-cultured callus in an 18 month-time span. The equipment of the pC-4978 and pC-4956:ET15 T-DNAs with a gusA and a gal4:UAS:gfp  enhancer trap respectively allows gene detection through visualisation of GUS activity and fluorescence in specific cell types and organs. Histochemical assays conducted on 2,280 T0 plants allowed detection of GUS-specific activity in leaves, roots and floral organs with respective frequencies of 26.9%, 6.9% and 3%.  Observations of mature leaf and floral organs of 2,082 pC-4956:ET15 primary transformants allowed fluorescence detection in more than 15 % of the plants. The T0 plants allowed to set seeds in the greenhouse have been first selected at the in vitro stage for amplification of a unique product of the genomic region flanking the T-DNA left border. 15,316 plants have been so far selected with an overall frequency of 60%, which is remarkably stable over transformation experiments. To date, 9,700 (90%) of the 10,862 PCR2 products sequenced with a T-DNA specific primer produced a readable sequence. BlastN search allowed identification of the T-DNA footprint in most (94.5%) sequences. Survey of the 5,603 (57.8%) genomic sequences larger than 30bp (average length 250 bp)


against the rice BAC/PAC sequences (total: 333.5 Mb as of June 2002) detected 4,261 hits and allowed to assign 3170 (56%) T-DNA insertion sites to at least one position on the rice genome. This is consistent with the percentage of the rice genome sequenced at that time (57%). The T-DNA insertion sites density for each chromosome averages 13.1 insertions per Mb sequenced and merely varies by a factor of 1.5 in ranging from 10 to 15 insertions per Mb across the 12 chromosomes. A more detailed examination of the distribution of T-DNA inserts along the Chromosome 1 showed that 578 (92.5%) over 626 T-DNA insertions are assigned to a unique location. The results clearly demonstrate that the centromeric region exhibits a lower insertion density whereas higher insertion density is observed in the subtelomeric regions. Aside from the T-DNA insert(s), 75% of T0 plants harbor a mean of 1.5 new copies of the rice endogenous Tos17 retrotransposon which have been specifically amplified and reinserted during the transformation/regeneration procedure. Walk-PCR based amplification of flanking regions of nearly all new inserts proved to be possible and 60% of them produced a PCR product that can be directly sequenced using an LTR-specific primer.  

 

Acknowledgements: This work is funded by the genomics initiative Génoplante (France) under project "Creation of a genome wide library of rice insertion lines" and by a bbsrc (UK) grant (AJ, JH and MT) under project "Generation of enhancer trap lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.) expressing gal4 and gfp in specific cell types". The authors wish to thank Dr A. Betzner and Dr. W. Tucker of ANU, Canberra for preparing the pC-4978 and pC-4956 binary plasmids and Dr Eric Huttner and Dr. Pascual Perez for valuable discussion in the course of this study.


 

Speaker – 2:   Su-May Yu

Back to Program

 

Title:               T-DNA insertional mutagenesis for rice functional genomics.

 

Authors:          Su-May Yu     

 

Affiliation:      Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sect. 2, Yen-Ju-Yen Rd, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan

 

Abstract:         T-DNA insertional mutagenesis approach has been employed to generate gene knockout rice mutant population for functional genomics.  The T-DNA carries a promoter-less reporter gene next to the right border.  Insertion of T-DNA downstream of functional genes would lead to identification of promoters that are regulated by physiological, developmental or environmental signals in distinct tissues of transgenic rice plants.  The T-DNA tagged rice lines will be used for phenotypic screening under various selective conditions.  The rice genomic DNAs flanking T-DNA are also isolated and sequenced.  A database for the rice/T-DNA junction DNA is currently being established.


 

Speaker – 3:   Andrew Eamens.

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Title:               A duel orientation T-DNA-cum-Ac/Ds gene trap system.

    

Authors:          Andrew Eamens1,2,3, Chris Blanchard2,3, Kerrie Ramm1,4 Elizabeth Dennis1,4, and Narayana Upadhyaya1,4.

 

Affiliation:      1. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

2. Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

3. Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production, C/- Yanco Agricultural
     Institute, Private Mail Bag, Yanco, NSW 2703

                                4. NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

 

Abstract:         T-DNA and Ac/Ds have proven to be efficient genomic tools for the production of insertional mutants in rice and other species. Previous studies have raised a number of concerns with the use of either system for gene or enhancer tagging in plants, including low levels of tagging efficiency, localised transposition, complex integration patterns and the incorporation of vector back-bone (VB) sequences. We have developed a T-DNA gene trap-cum-Ds launching pad construct. This construct offers a number of new features that allow it to initially be used as a dual orientation T-DNA gene trap housing two reporter genes (gus and gfp) to increase trapping efficiency.  T-DNAs found not be inserted in a coding region of the genome can be used as a subsequent launching pad for Ds transposon-based localised dual orientation gene tagging. A killer-gene (barnase) has also been included in the construct’s VB to remove interfering VB sequences and to reduce the occurrence of complex integration patterns within screening populations. We have evaluated the tagging efficiency of the T-DNA/Ds construct in rice and Arabidopsis and shown an approximately four-fold increase in screening efficiency in both these species.

 


 

SESSION – 2: GENE KNOCKOUT SYSTEMS – iAc/Ds

 

Speaker – 1:   Kinya Toriyama

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Title:               Induction of independent Ds transposition using meiosis-associated promoters in transgenic rice.

 

Authors:          Kinya Toriyama and Ryouhei Morita.

 

Affiliation:      Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 981-8555, Japan

Abstract:         The maize Ac/Ds transposon has been expected to be useful for the transposon tagging in rice. In most case, the transposition of a Ds element is achieved by crossing plants harbouring the Ac transposase (AcTP), which is usually driven by CaMV 35S promoter. However, employment of 35S promoter sometimes results in high frequency of somatic excisions, creating undesirable mutations by footprints, but low frequency of germinal independent transposition of Ds. Individual progeny derived from the same inflorescence has often been found to carry transposed Ds elements derived from the same transposition event, thus reducing the transposon tagging efficiencies. In order to suppress the somatic excision and increase the germinal independent transposition events in Ac/Ds transposon tagging system in rice, we are planning to use a meiosis-specific promoter to control the expression of AcTP. One of a meiosis-specific promoter was taken from a Lily gene, Lim10 (Lily messages induced at meiosis). Lim10 has been reported to encode a protein similar to a small heat shock protein and be expressed in meiocyte starting from zygotic stage and in tetrads. We first examined the activation pattern of Lim10 promoter in rice by introducing a fusion between Lim10 promoter and GUS gene. Histochemical GUS assay showed the GUS staining in anthers but not in other floral organs or leaves. GUS expression was observed in pollen mother cells, tetrads and young microspores. A fusion between Lim10 promoter and cDNA for AcTP was constructed and introduced into rice. Then a plant carrying the Lim10::AcTP was crossed with a plant carrying a Ds transposon, Ds-GUS T-DNA. Excision of a Ds element was detected by using PCR. The somatic excision was not detected in leaves of F1 plants as expected, although it was detected in F1 plant obtained by crossing a plant with Ds-GUS T-DNA and a plant with AcTP regulated by CaMV35S promoter. F2 plants with germinal excision were selected based on herbicide resistance, as Ds-GUS T-DNA has been designed to confer chlorsulfuron resistance once a Ds element was excised. Thirty-three plants were identified to be chlorsulfuron resistance


out of 348 F2 plants tested. Transposed Ds was detected by southern blot analysis. A band at different position indicates that the transposed Ds was derived from independent transposition event. In total 14 plants were identified to contain a unique band of transposed Ds. The frequency of independent transposition was as high as 4%. Lim10 promoter is shown to be powerful to induce independent germinal transposition in rice. We are now making a cross between plants with Ds-GUS T-DNA (35 lines) and plants with Lim10::AcTP (6 lines) and growing F1 plants between them. We are expecting to obtain many numbers (infinite numbers in theory) of tagging lines in rice. Mapping of Ds-GUS T-DNA in rice chromosomes is also in progress.


 

Speaker – 2:   Ramachandran Srinivasan

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Title:               An efficient transposon tagging system in rice and large-scale analysis of the Ds flanking sequences.

 

Authors:          Tatiana Kolesnik1,2, Ildiko Szeverenyi1,2, Doris Bachmann1, Santhosh Kumar Chellian1,3, Shuye Jiang1, Ramamoorthy Rengasamy1, Minnie Cai1, Ma Zhi Gang1, Venkatesan Sundaresan1,3 and Ramachandran Srinivasan1*.

 

Affiliation:      1. Rice Functional Genomics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link,
    NUS,
Singapore 117604

2. Authors contributed equally

3. Department of Plant Biology, Life Sciences Addition 1002, University of California, Davis,

    California, USA 95616

  *Author for correspondence

 

Abstract:         We have introduced the modified version of a two-element Ac/Ds gene trap system developed by Sundaresan et al (1995) into rice (O. sativa L., sap. japonica, cv. Nipponbare) plants to generate a collection of stable, unlinked and single-copy Ds transposants. Thirteen different cross combinations of parental lines were used to generate 4262 F2 families with at least one putative transposant per family. The average germinal transposition frequency of Ac/Ds in rice was estimated as 49% with a range from 16% to 74% depending on cross combination. Analysis of Ds flanking sequences of 2057 lines showed that 88% of the insertions were unique rice sequences and distributed randomly throughout rice genome. The remaining 12% of insertions were within T-DNA. Although the insertions were randomly distributed, chromosome 1 had two-fold more and chromosome 9, 11 and 12 had a few folds less insertions than expected. A putative ‘hot spot’ has been identified on chromosome 7, where twenty seven Ds flanking sequences (approximately 2% of unique sequences) were located on a 40 kb region. Over 22% of unique sequences were homologous to either protein or rice expressed sequence tags (ESTs) suggesting preferential transposition of Ds into coding regions. Also 841 genetically mapped sequences were placed on YAC-based EST map of rice (RGP, Japan) which revealed higher frequency of Ds transposition into EST rich regions confirming the preferential insertions of Ds into expressed regions. Molecular analysis of siblings showed that 79% of F2 families had siblings with at least 2 different unlinked transposition events suggesting that Ds transposition occurs late in the rice development. Our data clearly shows that Ac/Ds system is an excellent tool for functional genomics in rice.

 


 

Speaker – 3:   Andy Pereira

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Title:               EU consortium on rice transposon mutagenesis.      

 

Authors:          A. Pereira1, R. Greco1, L.J.G. van Enckevort1, P.B.F. Ouwerkerk2, C. Sallaud3, A. Kohli4, F. Fornara5, L. Colombo5, E. Pè5, P. Puigdomènech6, E. Guiderdoni3, P. Christou4,7, A.H. Meijer2, J.H.C. Hoge2.

 

Affiliation:      1. Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

2. Leiden University, PO Box 9505, 2303 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. CIRAD-AMIS, BP 5035, 34032 Montpellier, France

4. John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK

5. University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy

6. CID-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

7. Fraunhofer IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, D-57392 Schmallenberg, Germany

                       

Abstract:         An EU consortium on rice functional genomics was funded in FP5 to develop transposon mutagenesis systems in rice to address gene functions using forward and reverse genetics strategies.

To saturate the genome with inserts in a fewer number of plants, we sought to generate rice genotypes with multiple transposons. In a construct with the maize Ac element containing a double CaMV 35S enhancer adjacent to the autonomous Ac promoter, all transformants generated showed very early transposition, and about half displayed Ac amplification (Greco et al., 2001). This allowed the generation of lines containing multiple transposons (ca. four from a single copy T-DNA line) that could generate an average of one to two new inserts per progeny giving a frequency of 15 to 50% of independent transpositions in the next generation. We observed transposition of Ac to linked positions, applicable for targeted tagging. The isolation of Ac flanking genomic sequences revealed a preferential insertion in protein-coding sequences, suggesting that this could be a valuable asset for generating mutants in rice. Autonomous Ac genotypes are being produced in both indica and japonica rice. Using 25,000 lines for three to four generations would generate about 100,000 insertions that are suitable for identifying knockouts for forward as well as reverse genetic strategies.

However, the scope of knockout mutations is limited, as the majority of genes display no obvious phenotype, probably due to functional redundancy. We therefore focused on developing gene detection strategies using Ac-Ds transposons to address the function of genes that do not directly reveal a knockout phenotype. In one strategy we used Enhancer trap constructs that contain a mobile Ds element containing a GUS reporter gene with a minimal promoter, whose expression depends on transcriptional regulatory sequences of the adjacent host gene. Another strategy was using Activation tagging using a Ds element bearing a strong CaMV 35S enhancer, to generate gain-of-function phenotypes.

Although the frequency of Ds transposition in early generations appears to be high, inhibition of transposition was reported in later generations (Izawa et al., 1997). Though this might happen in some lines, active lines have been identified which still show good transposition activity in the T2/T3 generations, suggesting that Ds inactivation may not be a general phenomenon. In 2002, about 10,000 Ac-Ds plants are being used to generate Ds flanking DNA to provide a database of tagged genes.


 

Speaker – 4:   Chang-Deok Han

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Title:               Transposon, Ac/Ds - mediated gene trap systems for rice functional genomics in Korea.

 

Authors:          Chul Min Kim1, Byoung Il Je1, Hai Long Piao1, Soon Ju Park1, Min Jung Kim1, Sung Han Park1, Jin Young Park1, Su Hyun Park1, Eun Kyeong Lee2, Nam Soo Chon1, Yong Jae Won3, Gi Hwan Lee3, Min Hee Nam3, Doh Won Yun4, Myung Chul Lee4 , Moo Young Eun4, and Chang-deok Han1,2.

 

Affiliation:      1. Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 program)

2. Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC) Gyeongsang
   
National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea

3. Division of Rice Breeding and Cultivation Naitonal Yeongnam Agricultural Experiment
     Station (NYAES) Milyang 627-803,
Korea

4. Genomics Division National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (NIAB) Suwon
    441-707,
Korea

 

Abstract:         Maize Ac and gene trap Ds has been introduced into rice genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. CaMV 35S promoter was used to express Ac cDNA as a transposase source. For gene trap Ds, a partial intron with three alternative splicing acceptors was fused to GUS. A genetic marker for Ds (BAR) was inserted into trap Ds. To develop a large scale of Ds transposant lines in rice, three strategies have been employed and evaluated. In the first of all, a large scale of genetic crosses have been made between homozygous Ds or Ac starter lines that carry either a single copy of gene trap Ds or a single copy of Ac. The data suggest that the mobility of Ds is highly variable among starter lines. A couple of Ds lines generated high frequency of germinal revertants up to 25%, in the F2 segregation generation. However, the same genetic crosses that were repeated later, the frequency of germinal reversion in the same crosses noticeably decreases down to 10%. This indicates that the activities of Ac or Ds were subjected to modification in rice genomes. In contrast, when plants were re-generated, via tissue culture, from seeds carrying Ac and Ds, over 60% Ds elements were translocated from original sites. The last strategy is to select rice lines carrying high copy of Ds. The possibility is being examined whether a multi-copy Ds can be maintained and normally transmitted into subsequent generations. To maximize the efficiency of characterizing Ds tagged genes, optimal condition of iPCR (inverse PCR) and TAIL-PCR (Thermal Asymmetric Interlaced PCR) have been established to clone Ds flanking DNA in rice genomes. Over 80% Ds adjacent genomic DNA has been successfully amplified by both PCR methods. Over 3,000 Ds insertions have been cloned via iPCR (inverse PCR) and are being characterized. Among these genes, around 500 insertion sites have been analysed in detail. Near 50% showed significant homology with known genes or functional domains. As expected, near half of these tagged genes can express GUS fusion proteins. A national consortium has been organized to develop internationally competitive scale of population mutagenised by Ds, and to construct databases of molecular information on Ds insertion sites. The project includes cloning of 4,500 Ds insertion sites per year and selection of 10,000 Ds lines per year.


 

Speaker – 5:   Narayana Upadhyaya

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Title:               Can we produce a substantial "Rice Gene Machine" using the Ac/Ds system?        

 

Authors:          Narayana Upadhyaya1,2, Xue-Rong Zhou1, Qian-Hao Zhu1,2, Andrew Eamens1, Kerrie Ramm1,2, Limin Wu1, Ramani Sivakumar1, Shamsul Hoque2, Kathryn Smith2, Shuting Pan1, Tsuneo Kato1, Dow-Won Yun1, Chellian Santhoshkumar3, Kottaram Narayanan3, James Peacock1 and Liz Dennis1,2.

 

Affiliation:      1. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

                                2. NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

3. Centre for Biotechnology, SPIC Science Foundation, 111 Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai
    600 032, India

 

Abstract:         We have shown that Ac/Ds based gene and enhancer trap systems are suitable for generating insertion mutants in rice. The systems involve production of immobile Ac (iAc) and Ds (enhancer or gene trap) transgenic lines by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.  Subsequent genetic crossing was used to produce the mutagenic population containing both, iAc and Ds and screening of plants from subsequent generations for stable Ds (devoid of iAc) insertions in new genomic locations. Regions flanking the Ds element are being cloned and sequenced, creating a database of flanking sequences that represent disrupted genes. Approximately 4% of any screening population are such stable insertion lines.

 

So far we have produced ~5000 stable insertion lines which included lines with insertions in sequences homologous to a submergence induced gene (Ossip2), several rice expansin genes, a rice adh gene, a rice MADS15 gene, Barley’s cysteine proteinase precursor and lipid transfer protein encoding genes, maize gene encoding thiamine biosynthetic enzyme, Arabidopsis genes encoding monooxygenase 1, cytosine-5-methyltransfe and the cotton sad1 gene. Almost all of our Ds flanking sequences are represented in the recently released China super hybrid rice genome sequence database. Genes or genetic regions responsible for acute dwarfism, anther indehiscence and several tissue specific gene expression profiles have also been identified and further studies are in progress here at Plant Industry and/or at our collaborating laboratories.

 

With the current tagging systems approximately 4% of any screening population are stable insertion lines which make the screening very laborious and time consuming. We have now incorporated additional components in our iAc and Ds constructs to facilitate high throughput screening. These features include tms2 as a negative selection gene for iAc, bar as a strong positive selection gene or as an excision marker gene for Ds transposition and dual reporters (gfp and gus) for either orientation of Ds insertion. The duel reporter Ds construct can be used for either T-DNA tagging or subsequent localised Ds trapping.

 

The above mentioned improved construct designs will aid in increasing the screening efficiency but not tagging efficiency, we have explored the possibility of inducing transposition in callus cultures of proven Ds lines with bar as excision marker. This is achievable by transiently expressing transposase after co-cultivation with Agrobacterium harbouring an iAc construct containing gfp as a visual reporter gene. Regenerated plants which are BASTA resistant, Ds+ and GFP negative are putative stable insertion lines. Preliminary studies indicate that this transiently expressed transposase could induce Ds transposition. We are in the process of testing the suitability of this system for large-scale production of stable insertion lines from proven single locus Ds lines. We anticipate a 4-8-fold increase in the screening efficiency but will require 15 to 30 years to complete the genome wide insertions ourselves. 

 

It is therefore essential to set up an international collaboration to generate the half a million tagged lines required for saturating the genome with insertions. This collaboration should be as public as possible. From our initial results we estimate that the number of plants required to be screened is approximately 10 million (~200 kg screening population seeds).  It is vital to set up a common platform for exchange of information on tagged lines so that the scientific community can have access to a complete "Rice Gene Machine".


SESSION – 3: RETROTRANSPOSONS, NATURALLY OCCURRING

ALLELES AND DELETION MUTANTS

 

Speaker – 1:   Hirohiko Hirochika

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Title:               Insertional mutagenesis in rice using the endogenous retrotransposon.

 

Authors:          Hirohiko Hirochika

 

Affiliation:        National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), 2-1-2 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8602, Japan

 

Abstract:         Insertional mutagenesis is a powerful method for a systematic functional analysis of a large number of genes. Five active retrotransposons have been found in rice and the most active Tos17 was characterized in detail. Tos17 is silent under normal conditions, becoming active under tissue culture conditions. Five to thirty transposed Tos17 copies were found in each plant regenerated from culture. Tos17 becomes inactive in regenerated plants and mutations induced by Tos17 insertion are inherited stably in subsequent generations. Tos17 was shown to transpose preferentially into low copy number, gene-rich regions, indicating that Tos17 can be used as a tool for efficient mutagenesis. A collection of 50 000 regenerated rice lines carrying about 500 000 insertions was generated, and the lines are being used for forward and reverse genetic analyses. We have demonstrated that transposon-tagging is feasible, although the tagging efficiency is relatively low, 5-10%.  By using this strategy, causative genes for viviparous, salt-hypersensitive, dwarf, brittle culm, narrow leaf mutations, etc., have been cloned. Several lines of evidence indicated that non-tagged mutations involve deletions and point mutations induced by unknown mechanisms. These mutations may also be utilized by using TILLING and PCR-based screening of deletions. For reverse genetic studies, two strategies are employed. One is PCR-screening of mutants of the gene of interest. DNA pools derived from 40,000 lines have been produced for screening. We screened 31,000 lines and found mutants of 17 genes, including MAPK, MADS-box, and P450 genes, among the 53 genes analyzed. Mutants of five of ten MAPK genes have been identified, but only one mutant of one gene showed clear phenotype. Lack of phenotype can be largely due to gene redundancy. One possible solution is combination of mutations by crossing, as has been successfully demonstrated in Arabidopsis. Existence of frequent allelic mutations indicates hot spots for transposition target sites, which enables us to find and confirm the causality of genes and phenotype, while this may be a limiting factor for saturation mutagenesis. Currently, PCR screening is the most efficient approach for reverse genetics. However, cataloguing of insertion mutants by sequencing the genomic DNA sequence flanking insertions becomes important, considering the need for a systematic approach to find mutants for a large number of genes in the post-sequencing era and the finite nature of DNA pools for PCR screening. To carry out large scale sequencing of the Tos17-flanking sequences, TAIL- and suppression-PCR were adopted. By combining these two PCR methods, about 95% of flanking sequences can be amplified. As of June 2002, 14,300 independent flanking sequences from 3,700 lines have been determined and mutants of different classes of genes have been identified.


 

Speaker – 2:   Hei Leung

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Title:               Deletion and point mutation stocks for forward and reverse genetics in rice.

 

Authors:          Hei Leung1, Jianli Wu1, Cailin Lei1, Mayette Baraoidan1, Alice Bordeos1, Suzette Madamba1, Bradley Till2, Steve Reynolds3, Luca Comai3, Steven Henikoff2, Hursong Chang4, Tong Zhu4, Xun Wang4, Stephen Goff4, Lirong Zeng5, Guo-Liang Wang5, Changjian Wu1,6, and Jan Leach6.

 

Affiliation:        1. International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines

                                2. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, 98109 USA

                                3. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

                                4. Torrey Mesa Research Institute, San Diego, California, USA

5. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA 6Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas,
   
USA

6. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA

 

Abstract:         IR64 is the most widely grown indica rice variety in Asia.  It has many positive agronomic characteristics, including wide adaptability, high yield potential, tolerance to multiple diseases and insects, and good eating qualities, that make it an ideal genotype for identifying mutational changes in traits of agronomic importance.  We have produced a large collection of chemical and irradiation-induced IR64 mutants with different genomic changes (from point mutations to kb-size deletions) that are amenable for both forward and reverse genetics. About 42,000 IR64 mutants have been generated by mutagenesis using diepoxybutane (DEB), ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS), fast neutron, and gamma ray. Over 15,000 independent mutant lines have been advanced to M4 generation and seeds are available for systematic characterization. A summary of various collaborative efforts to use the IR64 mutant collection will be presented.

 

Morphological variation at vegetative and reproductive stages (between 6-8%), including plant architecture, growth habit, pigmentation, and various physiological characters, are commonly observed in the four mutagenized populations.  Subsets of M4 mutant lines are being screened for altered response to multiple stresses (bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, insects, drought, submergence, salinity), phytic acid content, and changes in tillering and root development.  To improve the utility of the deletion mutants, we experimented with Syngenta’s Rice GeneChipR (containing oligos for ~21,000 genes) to analyse mutants with known deletions. Results indicated that differential DNA-DNA hybridization signals are sufficient to reveal deleted genes. Provided that allelic mutations with known phenotypes are available, this approach can offer an efficient means for assigning gene function. 

 

For reverse genetics, we apply TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genome) to detect point mutations in targeted genetic loci.  TILLING makes use of enzymatic detection of heteroduplexes formed between wild type and mutant DNA strands and has been successfully used to detect point mutations in Arabidopsis (Colbert et al. 2001 Plant Physiol.126:480).  DNA was isolated individually from ~2,000 EMS-induced M2 plants, pooled (8 genotypes per pool), and arrayed in 96-well plates.  Primers were designed using CODDLE (http://www.proweb.org/input/) to bracket a 1-kb region most likely containing a deleterious mutation in a target gene.  So far, two independent mutations were detected in a gene pp2A4 encoding serine/threonine protein phosphatase catalytic subunit.  Sequencing of the mutant loci confirmed two single-base transitions in an intron and an exon of the gene. With available complete rice genome sequence and high-throughput genotyping techniques, efficient strategies for forward and reverse genetics can be applied to the chemical and irradiation induced mutants.

 


 

SESSION – 4: GENE SILENCING

 

Speaker – 1:   Peter Waterhouse

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Title:               dsRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing in plants

 

Authors:          Ming-Bo Wang, Neil Smith, Varsha Wesley, Chris Helliwell, David Abbott, Jean Finnegan, Allan Green, Qing Liu, Surinder Singh, Peter Stoutjesdijk, and Peter Waterhouse.

 

Affiliation:      CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

 

Abstract:         Many examples of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) of endogenous genes, reporter transgenes or invading viral genes have now been described in plants transformed with complimentary DNA sequences oriented in either the sense or antisense direction.  However, in most cases, this sense (cosuppression) or antisense mediated gene silencing occurs only at low frequency.  In relation to PTGS of invading viral genes, we initially showed in tobacco that transgenic expression of the Potato Virus Y (PVY) nuclear inclusion protease gene (Pro) in either the sense or antisense orientation conferred immunity to PVY in less than 10% of transgenic plants.  Subsequent experiments with constructs that contained multiple copies of the Pro gene in various combinations of sense and antisense orientation, demonstrated that increasing the number of either sense or antisense copies of the gene did not increase the frequency of immunity, however co-expression of both sense and antisense constructs resulted in a dramatic increase, with over 50% of such plants being immune to PVY.  Experiments in which the sense and antisense Pro sequences were placed contiguously in a variety of direct or inverted repeat configurations demonstrated that the immunity to PVY was conferred wherever complimentary sense and antisense RNA transcripts were encoded, regardless of the particular structure of the transgenic DNA.  Furthermore, when independently introduced sense and antisense Pro transgenes that individually did not confer PVY immunity were brought together by crossing, all progeny plants carrying both transgenes were fully immune.

 

These results suggested that the formation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) duplexes may be the critical factor in triggering PTGS in plants, a feature which would have striking similarities with RNA interference (RNAi) described in nematodes and Drosophila, and quelling observed in fungi.  Such a phenomenon could represent a ubiquitous system in plants for natural defence against dsRNA associated with viral infection.  The molecular mechanism currently postulated by a number of research groups involves the non-specific recognition of dsRNA by surveillance nucleases which subsequently degrade the RNA in a manner that initiates a sequence-specific degradation of complimentary RNA.  This hypothesis is supported by the regular observation of 23nt RNA degradation fragments in association with the PTGS phenomenon in several different plant/transgene systems.  Once initiated, the sequence-specific dsRNA degradation can occur throughout the plant and is graft-transmissible, indicating that a critical component of the mechanism is mobile in the plant.

 

Based on these mechanistic insights, we have now developed a PTGS system that can specifically silence genes with much greater efficiency than either antisense or cosuppression.  We have utilised inverted-repeat DNA constructs that have inbuilt self-complimentarity and are hence capable of regularly producing dsRNA through the formation of transcripts having hairpin structures (hpRNA).  Such constructs regularly give high frequencies of PTGS that is specific for sequences having complimentarity to the sense and antisense arms of the construct, which may be relatively short regions (~ 120nt) of either the translated or untranslated regions of the target gene.  The particular sequence of any intervening DNA between the arms does not affect the specificity of silencing and is required only to facilitate the manufacture of the inverted-repeat constructs in bacteria.  In fact, the use of a splicable intron as the intervening sequence further enhances the frequency of PTGS to near 100% efficiency, without altering its sequence specificity.  We have now designed and evaluated in Arabidopsis several hpRNA constructs targeted against either viral genes (e.g. PVY), reporter transgenes (e.g. GUS), and endogenous genes (e.g. fatty acid desaturases, pigment biosynthesis).  Additionally, we have already utilised the technique in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to achieve high level seed-specific silencing of both stearoyl-ACP D9-desaturase and oleoyl-PC w6-desaturase, thereby producing dramatic alterations in the fatty acid composition of cottonseed oil.

 

Besides being a fascinating attribute of cells, that was completely unsuspected 15 years ago, dsRNA-mediated PTGS promises to be a powerful tool for plant biotechnology and gene discovery.  The value of the method is considerably enhanced by the high frequency and specificity of silencing that can be achieved through the use constructs encoding intron-spliced hpRNA. 

 

 


 

Speaker – 2:   Ko Shimomoto

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Title:               RNAi as a complementing method for functional genomics of rice.

 

Authors:          Ko Shimamoto, Satoru Moritoh, and Daisuke Miki.

 

Affiliation:       Nara Institute of science and technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101, Japan

 

Abstract:         To suppress functions of genes whose DNA sequences are available RNAi is an effective method in various organisms including rice. When we want to suppress functions of genes of interest we often find they are members of a gene family. This is particularly true in rice compared with Arabidopsis. To individually suppress functions of each member of a gene family one may have to use regions of genes which are not well conserved to transcribe trigger dsRNA. However, it is known in plants and C. elegans that siRNA is produced from the region outside of the genes dsRNA is originally targeted by RNA dependent RNA polymerase resulting in spreading of RNAi to non-conserved regions. If this “spreading of RNAi” occurs it would be difficult to specifically suppress function of a member of a gene family by RNAi.

 

We addressed this question by applying RNAi method to the OsRac gene family. The OsRac genes encode small GTPases involved in various cellular functions including defence signalling. We have so far identified 10 rice genes in this family consisting of 7 groups. Most of their coding regions are highly conserved, however their 3’ UTRs are less conserved. Therefore, we designed RNAi constructs from which dsRNA of ca. 300 bp UTR regions are produced from 7 different genes and transformed them into rice. Results of the analysis of transgenic rice plants indicated that each of 7 group members of OsRac gene family was specifically suppressed by the respective RNAi construct with high frequency. Furthermore, analysis of RNA showed that siRNA was only detected by 3’ UTR regions and not by the highly conserved coding region.

 

These results suggested that RNAi by dsRNA for 3’UTR is a useful method to identify gene functions in rice for those genes for which tagged lines are not available.


 

Speaker – 3:   Chris Helliwell

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Title:               High throughput gene silencing in plants.

 

Authors:          Chris Helliwell, Varsha Wesley, Anna Wielopolska, Rong-Mei Wu, David Bagnall and Peter Waterhouse.

 

Affiliation:      CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

 

Abstracts:       A major challenge in the post-genome era of plant biology is to determine the functions of all the genes in the plant genome. A straightforward approach to this problem is to reduce or knockout expression of a gene with the hope of seeing a phenotype that is suggestive of its function. The efficacy of gene silencing in plants using inverted repeat transgene constructs that encode a hairpin RNA (hpRNA) has been widely demonstrated and offers a direct method of determining gene function. To allow gene silencing to be used in functional genomics applications in a straightforward manner we have developed a series of vectors using the Gateway recombination system to facilitate the easy and rapid production of hp RNA constructs. The latest advances in design of these vectors will be described. The sequence of the Arabidopsis genome has shown that large portions of the genome are duplicated and therefore likely to be functionally redundant. This means that conventional single gene knockout approaches are unlikely to reveal the function of these genes. As gene silencing is sequence dependent it can potentially be used to silence multiple members of a gene family. We will present the results of experiments to define rules for construct design to silence multiple members of a gene family.

 


 

SESSION – 5: ACTIVATION TAGGING

 

Speaker – 1:   Andrzej Kilian

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Title:               TransGenomics: a platform for gene discovery, candidate gene validation and molecular breeding.

 

Authors:          Andrzej Kilian

 

Affiliation:      CAMBIA, GPO Box 1600, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, ACT, 2602, Australia

 

Abstract:         TransGenomics builds on the recent progress in the understanding of the important role gene regulation plays in plant evolution and adaptation. TransGenomics attempts to create changes in gene regulatory networks using synthetic transactivators. The controlled manipulation of expression of practically any gene in rice, offers an opportunity to develop and test specific hypotheses of linkages between gene activity and the resulting phenotype.  It is expected that rice lines with improved characteristics could be produced as a result of the TransGenomics project. These lines could be isolated through appropriate screens of TransGenomics materials and then used as improved germplasm in breeding programs.

 

TransGenomics is a three-step process. First, we capture a large number of rice genomic regions using an Enhancer Trap system, which employs a transcriptional activator to generate TransActivator Facilitated Enhancer Trap (TAFET) lines. Second, we insert into the rice genome, a number of copies of an Upstream Activating Sequence (UAS) that are the targets for binding by the Transactivator. Transgenic lines containing UAS element(s) are called random TARGET lines. Third, crosses between the TAFET lines and the random TARGET lines are performed. The transactivator is then able to create changes in the expression patterns of the chromatin regions containing UAS insertions. Such transactivation of a UAS-tagged gene-containing region is expected to result in “Gain of Function” mutations. Using this strategy we will be able to scan the rice genome for novel genes which may be missed by other approaches, especially those focusing on “Loss of Function” mutations.

 

TAFET lines can be also used for candidate gene validation. In this case, the UAS promoter is fused with a candidate gene “in vitro” and then introduced into rice genome via transformation, creating a specific TARGET line. Genetic crosses between selected TAFET line(s) and a specific TARGET line allows rapid testing of candidate gene with various expression patterns imposed by the transactivator.

 

The current stage of the rice TransGenomics project, including informatics component, will be reported, with emphasis on the development and analysis of a comprehensive population of TAFET and UAS lines. 

 


 

Speaker – 2:   Stephanie von Gavel

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Title:               TraitMill – high throughput phenotypic evaluation in rice.

 

Authors:          Stephanie von Gavel

 

Affiliation:      CropDesign General, Technologiepark 3, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium

 

Abstract:         CropDesign, based in Gent - Belgium, is an agbiotech company focused on the application of functional genomics for improved crop performance, including higher yield, heightened tolerance to stress and better quality. CropDesign applies its technology in rice, corn, wheat and other cereals.

 

One of CropDesign's main technology platforms is TraitMill. TraitMill closes the application gap between classical genomics and the development of improved or novel crop traits. The TraitMill is designed to determine the effects on plants of changes from only single genes or from specific gene combinations.  The TraitMill is a set of high throughput and high resolution technologies and processes for identifying, cloning and inserting genes in plants. It can rapidly validate the effect of a gene at various expression levels and in various tissues in a cereal crop. Plant phenotypes are evaluated using automated plant and seed handling systems, and with digital imaging and analysis.  Trait relevant data in rice is available within 15 months.  CropDesign also applies extensive gene sequence databases and gene function information to crop trait development. CropDesign's bioinformatics platform "GeneCircle" is an integrated system for the storage, visualisation and editing of annotated gene sequences - facilitating data access, automated annotation and advanced data queries.

 

 

 


 

SESSION – 6: EXPRESSION PROFILING

 

Speaker – 1:   Rudy Dolferus

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Title:               Molecular basis of cold-induced pollen sterility in rice.

 

Authors:          Rudy Dolferus1,3, Xiaochun Zhao2,3, Sandra Oliver1,4, Jane Edlington1, Elizabeth Dennis1.

 

Affiliation:      1. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

                                2. University of Sydney, Cobbity, Australia

3. CRC for Sustainable Rice Production, C/- Yanco Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag,
    Yanco, NSW 2703, Australia

4. Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia

 

Abstract:         Cold-induced pollen sterility is a problem that affects rice yields in most temperate rice growing areas of the world. Breeding efforts for cold-tolerant varieties have been relatively unsuccessful, due to the lack of suitable germplasm, reliable screening methods, and knowledge about the molecular basis of the problem. We are using a sensitive microarray approach to study cold-induced changes in anther gene expression in order to identify genes that are critically affected by cold. This gene expression profiling approach may lead to the identification of the biochemical and physiological changes that cause pollen sterility. In addition, by comparing the cold response of cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive rice varieties we will be able to identify genes that could be used as molecular markers in breeding programs for cold tolerance in rice.


 

Speaker – 2:   Naoki Kishimoto

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Title:               Rice functional genomics via cDNA microarray: Expression profiles of stress-responsible genes and Rice full-length cDNA clones for global expression analysis

 

Authors:          Naoki Kishimoto1, Junshi Yazaki1, Masahiro Ishikawa1, Kohji Sato1, Toshifumi Nagata1, Nobuyuki Kawagashira1, Kouji Doi1, Keiichi Kojima2, Takahiro Namiki2, Kanako Shimbo2, Fumiko Fujii1, Tomoya Ohata1, Zenpei Shimatani3, Akiko Hashimoto3, Yuko Nagata3, Sachiko Honda3, Kazuko Toyoshima1, Katsumi Sakata1, Kimiko Yamamoto3, Takuji Sasaki1, Yasuhiro Otomo4, Kazuo Murakami4, Kennichi Matsubara4, Jun Kawai5, Piero Carninci5, Yoshihide Hayashizaki5 and Shoshi Kikuchi1.

 

Affiliation:        1. NIAS; 2. Hitach Soft Engineering; 3. STAFF; 4. FAIS; 5. RIKEN, Japan

 

Abstract:         The rice full-length cDNA project has been initiated since 2001. Up to now 28K independent groups are collected from randomly picked-up full-length cDNA clones (170K) , which are from the libraries of seedlings, calli, and both were treated with several environmental stresses, panicles of rice. About 16K clones are completely sequenced and functional annotation of the clones are made with the homology search (BLAST N and X) against NCBI GenBank database. About 7,000 clones have hit to the clones or sequences registered in DB (E<10-100). At this moment about one fourth of the total clones hit the sequences from Arabidopsis genome (BLAST X). About 4,000 clones, which have hit to the gene products (mRNA, Protein) are divided into the functional categories according to the KEGG site (http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg/). Summarizing the expression data from the Microarray analyses, the full-length sequence data of cDNA clones, gene annotation data from the homology search (especially from the mapping data on the chromosomes) and the genomic sequence data from the Rice Genome Sequence Project, it is possible to assign the promoter sequences of the genes which show common profile in stress responsible expression.

 

Also, we have embarked on a large-scale functional genomics by Microarray system (using RGP/EST clones as probe; about 11,000 non-redundant set) in order to obtain a global expression profile of rice genes, supported by the Rice Microarray Project by MAFF.  In the research project, the system was used to hybridize target RNAs prepared from normally grown rice tissues (as control) and some stress treated tissues, such as some low temperature conditions, a high salt condition, some nutrient deficient conditions, oxidative stress treatment such as UV-B and Gamma irradiation and the treatment with Hydrogen peroxide, the additions of excess hormones and the treatment with hormone biosynthesis inhibitors and so on (http://microarray.rice. dna.affrc.go.jp/).

 

We analysed gene expression responses of rice plant after UV-B and Gamma rays irradiation. Dosage-dependent expression and time course after irradiation were monitored. In both cases, there are at least two gene sets, which are early (within 8hrs) induced genes and late (about 24hrs) induced gene set. Both irradiations should give DNA damage and oxidative stress to the plant, however, the genes which change their expression are different each other. Similarity of the gene expression profiles of these two stimuli to expression profiles from other stresses will be discussed.


 

Speaker – 3:   Junshi Yazaki

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Title:               Rice functional genomics via cDNA microarray: The expression profiles of plant hormone responsible genes.

 

Authors:          Junshi Yazaki1, Naoki Kishimoto1, Masahiro Ishikawa1, Keiichi Kojima2, Kanako Shimbo3, Fumiko Fujii1, Tomoya Ohta1, Zenpei Shimatani3, Akiko Hashimoto3, Yuko Nagata3, Katsumi Sakata1, Kimiko Yamamoto3, Takuji Sasaki1, and Shoshi Kikuchi1.

                       

Affiliation:        1. NIAS; 2. Hitach Soft; 3. STAFF, Japan

 

Abstract:         We have embarked on a large-scale functional genomics using the microarray system in order to obtain a global expression profile of rice genes. More than 11,000 partial cDNA sequences corresponding to unique genes have been identified at the Rice Genome Research Program (RGP). From these sequences, microarrays were constructed using 8987 cDNA clones. These were used as probes to hybridize target RNAs prepared from normally grown callus and plant hormonal treated callus. Normalized data among these several experiments are summarized in our database (RED; Rice Expression Database) and the expression profiles of the genes are compared with over 600 expression profiles. We hope to introduce results of interesting clusters of plant hormonal responsible genes and our in silico functional genomics tool in this workshop.


 

Speaker – 4:   Nijat Imin

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Title:               Protein profiling of male gametophyte development and its response to low temperature stress in rice.

 

Authors:          Imin N., Kerim T., Weinman J.J. and Rolfe B.G.

 

Affiliation:        Austrlain National University, GPO Box 475, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

 

Abstract:         We used proteomic analysis to investigate the changing patterns of protein synthesis during pollen development in rice anthers and their responses to low temperature treatment that cause male sterility in rice. An anther proteome database of the proteins separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was established and publicly accessible at http://semele.anu.edu.au/2d/2d.html. Over 3,000 protein spots were detected over the pH range of 4-11. Of these, over 350 protein spots were analysed by MALDI-TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry), tandem MS and N-terminal sequencing and putative identities were assigned to more than 100 protein spots. Then, we compared the anther proteome maps of different developmental stages and we detected approximately 150 protein spots changed consistently during development. Of these, 44 proteins were identified including proteins are closely associated with sugar metabolism, cell elongation and cell expansion. Furthermore, we detected 36 protein spots as differentially after one, two and/or four days of cold temperature treatment in the cold sensitive cultivar Doongara. Among them, 32 protein spots were up-regulated and four protein spots were down-regulated. Of these, 12 proteins were identified including proteins potentially associated with exine formation.

 

 


 

SESSION – 7: CASE STUDIES OF GENE IDENTIFICATION

USING FUNCTIONAL GENOMIC TOOLS

 

Speaker – 1:   Qian-Hao Zhu

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Title:               A Ds tagged mutant defective in anther dehiscence.

 

Authors:          Qian-Hao Zhu1,2, Kerrie Ramm1,2, Ramani Shivakkumar1, Elizabeth S. Dennis1,2 and Narayana M. Upadhyaya1,2.

 

Affiliation:      1. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

2. NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

 

Abstract:         Using a two element Ac/Ds transposon tagging system we have isolated a rice (cv. Nipponbare) mutant – anther indehiscence 1 (aid1), showing undehisced and delayed dehisced anthers resulting in partial to complete spikelet sterility. Spikelets of aid1 could be classified into 4 types based on degree of deformities in pollen grain development, anther dehiscence and its synchronization with spikelet opening. The aid1 mutant has fewer tillers and takes 10-15 more days for panicle heading compared to the wild-type. The phenotype of the aid1 mutant could not be rescued by application of jasmonic acid (JA) at panicle booting and anthesis stage, and was not affected by light and humidity, indicating that AID1 is not involved in the biosynthesis of JA and that light and humidity do not contribute to the variable phenotypes of aid1 mutant. The Ds insertion responsible for this mutation is located on BAC OSJNBa0035I03 of chromosome 6. Analyses of the sequence around the Ds element revealed this Ds insertion in the first exon of the predicated AID1 gene. The putative AID1 gene has no known counterparts in public databases. However, the AID1 locus is ~5.2 cM away from the well known wx locus. A male sterile locus ms1 has also previously been mapped to ~5 cM away from wx locus suggesting possible relationship between AID1 and MS1.

                       

 


 

Speaker – 2:   Marcia Margis

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Title:               A GA responsive dwarf mutant defective in an early step of GA biosynthesis pathway.

 

Authors:          Marcia Margis-Pinheiro1,3, Xue-Rong Zhou1, Qian-Hao Zhu2, Shamsul Hoque2, Ramannee Shivakkumar1, Kerrie Ramm1,2, Elizabeth S. Dennis1,2, Narayana M. Upadhyaya1,2

 

Affiliation:      1. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

                                2. NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre, Wagga, Wagga, NSW, Australia

3. Laboratório de Genética Molecular Vegetal (LGMV)-Depto de Genética, Universidade Federal do

    Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

 

Abstract:         The gibberellin (GA) sensitive dwarf mutants form a large and very well known group of plant hormone deficient mutants. The characterization of these mutants has led to the elucidation of GA biosynthetic pathway allowing the cloning of genes encoding the enzymes involved in the different steps of GA production. Enzymes of the GA metabolic pathway have been mainly characterized in A. thaliana and no data has been collected up to now concerning the regulation of the early steps of GA biosynthesis in rice. Here we report the identification and characterization of a GA sensitive dwarf mutant in rice, produced by transposon tag. The rice transgenic line TT14-1-3-3-1 was obtained by super-transformation of transgenic calli carrying a Ds transposon. This plant produces in its progeny short and sterile plants in the proportion of 15:1 normal/dwarf. The dwarf plants show normal viability and germination, but can be differentiated early in development by extreme short sized seedling with dark green leaves. In addition, these plants did not flower. However, in spite of its acute dwarfism, the mutant shows normal root development. Southern experiments using probes derived from both transposon and T-DNA, showed that the dwarf plants contain two different insertions but only one of them, a HindIII 8 kb band, is not present in the homozygous normal plants suggesting that this DNA fragment contains the gene that has been knocked out. TAIL-PCR was used to rescue the flanking region of the Ds transposon with genomic DNA of dwarf plants as template. The sequence obtained encodes an ent-kaurene synthase (KS) protein, the enzyme catalyzing the second step of the GA biosynthesis pathway. Consistent with this result, the osks1 mutant seedlings are able to respond positively to exogenous gibberellin (GA3), by increasing their size to similar levels as wild-type plants. The osks1 transcripts of about 2.3 kb were detected in leaves, stem and panicles, but not in roots. This result suggests that other genes encoding KS could be responsible for the production of ent-kaurene in rice roots. osks1 is not implicated in seed germination since RNA isolated from imbibed seeds of 2, 4 and 6 days did not hybridize to the osks1 probe. Searches on four different databases revealed the presence of at least 4 KS genes in addition to osks1. The phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the 5 putative ent-kaurene synthase genes revealed that they all cluster with ent-kaurene synthase. Our results suggest that the osks1 gene may be responsible for the production of ent-kaurene through the most of the rice life cycle, such as stem elongation, leaf expansion and flowering. However, this gene apparently is not implicated in root development or seed germination.

 


 

SESSION – 8: BIOINFORMATICS FOR THE

“GLOBAL RICE GENE MACHINE”

 

Speaker – 1:   Narayana Upadhyaya and Leaka Henry

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Title:               Bioinformatics for the Global Rice Gene Machine - Towards developing a web-based Rice Gene Machine Information Management System (RGMIMS).

 

Authors:          Leaka Henry2,3, Narayana M. Upadhyaya1,2

 

Affiliation:      1. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

                                2. CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, GPO Box 664, Canberra ACT 2601,
   
Australia

                                3.  NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

 

Abstract:         A labnote-cum-relational database was originally created using the Microsoft (MS) Access program to catalogue Ac and Ds lines, Ds trap lines, flanking rice genomic sequences, mutant phenotypes, expression patterns, sequence information and sequence homologies.  Recently the database has been upsized to MS Access Project with the MS SQL server/client setup - a more robust relational database management system. A tagged sequence database has also been set up in the Unix system using Wisconsin GCG programs and is being made available to registered users for “BLAST” searches using GCG software. Simultaneously, searches for sequences homologous to our “tagged sequences” are being made in publicly available databases. A web site has been setup (http://www.pi.csiro.au/fgrttpub/ ) for the release of information on lines with tags in known gene sequences. 

This group’s bioinformatics capabilities are being enhanced with the involvement of CMIS through the new “Centre for Agricultural Genomics”.  In the pipeline, is the development of a web-based Rice Gene Machine Information Management System (RGMIMS) to manage all information regarding the “Rice Gene Machine” being developed here at CSIRO Plant Industry. The existing MS Access Project is being streamlined for a robust RGMIMS. The system will interface with a barcode reader/writer to track transgenic plant lines, DNA samples and seeds. Possible migration to other platforms are being taken into consideration while revising the MS Access Project structure in view of future intra- and inter-system unification and/or information filtering “Towards Building a Global Rice Gene Machine”.

 

Acknowledgements: PI - Qianhao Zhu, Kerrie Ramm, Ramani Shivakkumar, Shamsul Hoque, Marcia Margis, Liz Dennis

CMIS – Ian Saunders, Bella Robinson, Mark Cameron, Gavin Kennedy

 


 

Speaker – 2:   Christophe Perin

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Title:               An overview of rice bioinformatics at CIRAD.

 

Authors:          Biotrop, P., Larmande, M., Ruiz, Perin, C., and Courtois, B.

 

Affiliation:      CIRAD, TA 40/03 Avenue Agropolis, Montpellier, Hérault, 34398, France

 

Abstract:         Three bioinformatics projects dealing with rice are underway at CIRAD-Biotrop. Two were developed in order to analyse and store molecular and phenotypic data generated in our institute. The third is a prospective project to connect several sets of heterogenous data concerning functional genomics. A Perl pipeline previously developed for automatic annotation of FSTs (Flanking Sequence Tags) in Arabidopsis was adapted and extended for FST annotation of our rice T-DNA insertion library. This pipeline work is carried out in three steps: vector sequences are removed, all of the good quality FSTs are blasted against the BAC sequences, and E-FSTs (Enlarged FST) are produced by retrieving 2kb of DNA BAC sequence surrounding both sides of the FSTs. Then, the E-FSTs are annotated and directly amenable to reverse genetics through key word request. Phenotypical data (GUS assays, seed defects and morphological mutants) have been collected by several projects using the T-DNA insertion library. This data will be compiled using a phenotypic database (in development) and connected to the FST DB. In the near future, the FST database will be interfaced with the FlagDB++ software that is currently in use at URGV (Evry, France). A generic database built through an object oriented strategy, TropgeneDB, was developed in Perl object to store genetic, molecular and phenotypic data of the numerous yet poor documented tropical species worked on CIRAD. TropgeneDB was developed using the AceDB system and is currently organized on a crop-basis with three modules (cocoa, sugarcane and banana), and there are plans to create additional modules for rice, cotton, oil, palm, coconut, rubber tree and sorghum. The most common data stored in TropgeneDB are genetic and physical maps, markers information, QTLs, sequence data, genes, alleles and germplasms. An integrated web based browser provides an easy way to search for and/or add specific information to the databases. A pipeline of automatic annotation in rice for phylogenetic annotation (putative orthologues, paralogues with a putative new function) linked to phenotypical data (QTL, mutant associated with bin position), as well as expression data (tissues, developmental steps, environmental conditions...) is in progress. Our objective is, based on a specific project (trait of interest), to report a set of candidates genes possibly involved in the trait of interest and then link this set to existing tools for later validation (FST in At/rice, NIL or segregating population for QTL, cDNA clones...).


 

Speaker – 3:   Yue-ie Hsing

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Title:               Introduction to Taiwan Rice Insertional Mutants (TRIM) database.

 

Authors:          Yao-cheng Lin1, Chun-I Chung1, Su-may Yu2, Teh yuan Chow1, Chih-kuan Chern3, Ming-sher Fan3 and Yue-ie C. Hsing1

 

Affiliation:      1. Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

                                2. Institute of Mole

 

Abstract:         As part of the effort for rice functional genomics research, a team was funded to address gene functions in Taiwan using T-DNA knock-out strategy. Stable insertion lines are generated containing random insertions of T-DNA in japonica rice cv. Tainung 67, which is one of the most popular cultivars in Taiwan. Several thousands of the independent mutant lines are established up to now and our group starts sequencing work on DNA flanking insertion site. To facilitate the analysis and annotation processes, the sequences were edited to remove contaminating or poor quality data. The insertion sites are identified by BLASTN comparisons against databases, which is rice sequences in NR and HTGS downloaded from NCBI. A significant similarity was declared when the e value is smaller than 10-50. For those sequence data still in HTGS stage and thus no annotation information, we used GAAS (http://ricegaas.dna.affrc.go.jp/rgadb/) in RGP or DAS (http://www.tigr.org/tdb/e2k1/osa1/irgsp/DAS.shtml) in TIGR to facilitate the analysis. The database containing flanking sequence tags (FST) is established, and researchers may BLAST with query sequence or search with keywords. The sequences may also be linked to the rice genome database. We designate this FST database as Taiwan Rice Insertional Mutants (TRIM), with the URL address of http://trim.sinica.edu.tw/.

 


 

Speaker – 4:   Tim Littlejohn

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Title:               Bioinformatics skills for the plant genomicist.

 

Authors:          Tim Littlejohn

 

Affiliation:      BioLateral, PO Box A51, Enfield Sth, NSW, 2133, Australia

 

Abstract:         Molecular life sciences are information driven: as a consequence investigators need to be part of expert teams that can both create high value datasets and have the skills and technologies to mine them for IP.  Bioinformatics skills are essential for this discovery process, and they include:

 

*A deep understanding of information biology;

*A broad knowledge of available bioinformatics resources (databanks, software, computing), and;

*An ability to engineer new technologies when existing ones are lacking or rate limiting

 

This presentation will focus on the engineering skills needed by the modern plant genomicist.

 

 

 

 


 

Speaker – 5:   Bal Antanio

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Title:               Map-based rice genomics through INE.

 

Authors:          B.A. Antonio, Y. Mukai, N. Namiki, T. Matsumoto and T. Sasaki

 

Affiliation:      Rice Genome Research Program, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences / Institute of the Society for Techno-innovation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan

 

Abstract:         The rice genome database INE (Integrated Rice Genome Explorer) integrates all the genomic information that has been accumulated from large-scale analysis of rice including cDNA analysis, genetic mapping, physical mapping, EST mapping and genome sequencing. So far, the database contains more than 422 Mb of sequence data resulting from the international genome sequencing effort. As the high-quality draft sequence of the entire genome will be completed within this year, INE will facilitate a more detailed and accurate correlation of mapping information with the genome sequence. This will be very useful for map-based genomics including comparative analysis of plant genomes, map-based cloning of biologically important genes and functional characterization of genes.

 

           

 


 

 Speaker – 7:  Bill Crosby

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Title:               Open Source Initiatives for the Integration of Functional Genomics Data.

 

Authors:          Crosby, W.L., Links, M.G., McCarthy, E.L. and Wilkinson, M.W.

 

Affiliation:        Plant Genomics Program, NRC Canada, Plant Biotechnology Institute, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, Canada

 

Abstract:         The increasing complexity and volume of functional genomics data presents new challenges for deriving data for the rapidly-growing global datasets. Recent developments in the 'open source' community offer guiding principles and effective tools to assist life scientists in capturing full value from the output of functional genomics program. Specific examples will be discussed, with special reference to the needs of the plant and agricultural genomics community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

 

 


SESSION – 11: VIEWS OF OUTSIDERS/NEW COMERS

 

 

Speaker – 1:   Joost T. van Dongen

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Title:               Mutagenesis as a tool for investigating carbohydrate metabolism in Rice.

 

Authors:          Joost T. van Dongen, Peter Geigenberger

 

Affiliation:        Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Golm,
                            
Germany

 

Abstract:         Many questions exist on how sucrose is converted into starch within the seeds of monocotyledonous plants like rice. What is clear yet, is that it is significantly different from starch synthesis in e.g. potato tubers, which is already being investigated extensively in our group.

 

 

 

For example, the transport pathway of carbon through the rice kernel is rather complex, with many different cell types being involved. Besides, starch synthesis in rice seems to be under strict developmental control and the time frame, in which it takes place, is very short: about three weeks only.

 

 

The advantages of the sequenced rice genome, the possibility to transform rice, and the increasing availability of different types of mutants will be discussed as tools for investigating the regulation of sucrose to starch conversion in developing rice seeds. Special attention will be paid on the TILLING technique.

 

 


 

Speaker – 2:   Tayyab Husnain

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Title:               Search of drought tolerant gene(s) and their over expression in Indica
             basmati rice (Oryza sativa L).

 

Authors:          Husnain. T.1, Fatima. T.1, Naseem. M.1, Shinwari. Z. K.1, Hussain. S. S.1, Ahmed. Z.1,  Riazuddin, S.1, Ito, Y.2, Katsura. K.2 and Shinozaki. K. Y2

 

  Affiliation:          1. National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, 87-W Canal Bank Road, Lahore-
    
53700, Pakistan
.

2. Biological resources division, JIRCAS 1-1, Ohwashi, Tsukaba, Ibaraki, 305-8686, Japan.

 

Abstract:         Drought, excessive salts and freezing are stresses that cause adverse effects on the growth and productivity of plants. Drought and salinity are significant environmental hazards in Pakistan, causing reduction in cultivated area. The water resources are declining at the rate of three percent per annum. There is an urgent need to combat this problem. One of solution is the development of drought tolerant crops.

 

Late embryogenesis abundant proteins (e.g HVA1) have been reported to correlate with seed desiccation. We are searching for proteins (genes) involved in somatic embryogenesis in cotton varieties growing in semiarid climate. Histological studies have revealed that the expression of certain proteins is correlated with essential histomorphological changes. During these attempts, proteins have been extracted from local cotton varieties (Gossypium hirsutum L) as well as non-adapted variety G. hirsutum Coker. Hypocotyl segments, regenerating calli at different stages and cell in suspension were used as a source. At present, difference in protein patterns after 2-D gel electrophoresis revealed eight different proteins. Our future goal is to narrow down these proteins and then carry out the molecular characterization of the candidate proteins.

 

The transformation of plant using regulatory genes is an attractive approach for producing dehydration stress tolerant plants. Stress resistant genes (DREB1A and DREB1B) reported to have significant role in regulating gene expression in response to drought, salt and cold stress. The constructs containing DREB1A and DREB1B under ubiquitin and lip9 promoters are being used to transform Basmati rice. The scutellum-derived calli from mature embryos of Basmati rice were used in biolistic gun transformation. These experiments resulted in seventy putative transformants that were selected on a medium containing hygromycin.


 

Speaker -4:     L.H Lewin

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Title:               The Rice Gene Machine - A Breeder's Perspective

           

 

Affiliation:        Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production and NSW
                            Agriculture, PMB Yanco NSW 2703,
Australia.

 

Abstract:         Rice breeding will benefit from a better understanding of genetic control of the many characters that must be manipulated in a breeding program.  This is illustrated by any recent examples including control of amylose content in rice.

 

The Rice Gene Machine has potential to build on the developments in rice genomics by linking function to structure.  The molecular techniques are elegant and have great potential to revolutionise breeding.  Describing the link between a gene and its function (phenotyping) is not a trivial exercise and similar elegance will be required to achieve the desired outcome.

 

Once function has been described, it is variation within a gene that may be important.  This variation may already be available within the rice gene pool or may have been created by the Rice Gene machine itself.