Genetic and genomic tools for the emerging model organsism, Nasonia

描述(由申请人提供)：Nasonia是一个由四种昆虫组成的属，正在迅速成为一个模式系统，特别是在复杂特征、发育和微生物-宿主相互作用的遗传学方面。它有几个特点，使它成为一个优秀的遗传系统。这些包括易于处理，世代时间短，雄性单倍体，干扰物种，可见和分子标记，以及与生物学和医学相关的丰富表型。性别决定的形式，称为单倍体，使纳索尼亚特别适合于遗传学研究。雌性是二倍体，从受精卵发育而来，而雄性是单倍体，是从未受精卵发育而来的。这使得遗传学家可以在一个原本复杂的真核生物中利用单倍体遗传学的许多优势。此外，纳斯尼亚很容易进行近亲繁殖，允许产生等基因系，并且该属的四个物种是可互育的(在去除内共生体沃尔巴克氏菌后)，有利于基因在物种之间的移动，以便有效地进行数量性状基因座(QTL)的定位克隆。玻纹夜蛾(NV)的全(6X)基因组测序和干扰种N。吉拉乌尔蒂(Ng)和长角夜蛾(NL)的部分(1X)测序现已完成。该基因组计划提供了丰富的物种间多态(SNPs、Indels、微卫星)，以促进位置克隆。一个影响组织特异性细胞生长的基因已经被克隆，其他的努力正在进行中，以剖析翅膀发育、胚胎发育、孤雌生殖、细菌与宿主的相互作用、宿主偏好、性别决定、滞育、雄性信息素以及求偶和繁殖的遗传基础。此外，系统的RNAi和转化最近在纳索尼亚被证明。我们建议进一步开发一套基因组和遗传工具，使研究界能够更有效地利用这一新兴遗传系统的特殊优势。我们的具体目标是(A)使用有效的基于阵列的方法和物种间杂交来完成Nasonia支架的作图，(B)分析和开发利用Nasonia转录组的工具，(C)改进RNAi和转基因方法和工具，以及(D)开发一套遗传工具来增强高效的位置克隆。这些资源将促进在Nasonia中发现和克隆QTL，并将其用于其他研究系统的比较遗传和基因组研究。拟议的工具开发将极大地增强Nasonia系统作为遗传和比较模型的作用，并使Nasonia基因组得到更充分的利用。它得到了纳索尼亚和其他相关研究团体的大力支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nasonia is a genus of four insect species that is quickly emerging as a model system, particularly for the genetics of complex traits, development, and microbial-host interactions. It has several features that make it an excellent genetic system. These include ease of handling, short generation time, male haploidy, interfertile species, visible and molecular markers, and a wealth of phenotypes of biological and medical relevance. The form of sex determination, called haplodiploidy, makes Nasonia particularly suited for genetic studies. Females are diploid and develop from fertilized eggs, whereas males are haploid and develop parthenogenetically from unfertilized eggs. This allows geneticists to exploit many of the advantages of haploid genetics in an otherwise complex eukaryotic organism. Furthermore, Nasonia readily inbreeds, permitting production of isogenic lines, and the four species in the genus are inter-fertile (after removal of the endosymbiont Wolbachia), facilitating movement of genes between the species for efficient positional cloning of quantitative trait loci (QTL). Full (6X) genome sequencing of N. vitripennis (Nv) and partial (1X) sequencing of the interfertile species N. giraulti (Ng) and N. longicornis (Nl) is now completed. This genome project provides a wealth of interspecies polymorphisms (SNPs, indels, microsatelites) to facilitate positional cloning. A gene affecting tissue-specific cell growth has already been cloned, and other efforts are underway to dissect the genetic basis of wing-development, embryonic development, parthenogenesis, bacterial-host interactions, host preference, sex determination, diapause, male pheromones, and courtship and reproduction. In addition, systemic RNAi and transformation have recently been demonstrated in Nasonia. We propose to further develop a set of genomic and genetic tools that will allow the research community to exploit more efficiently the particular advantages of this emerging genetic system. Our specific goals are to (a) complete mapping of the Nasonia scaffolds using an efficient array-based approach and interspecies crosses, (b) analyze and develop tools for exploiting the Nasonia transcriptome, (c) Improve RNAi and transgenesis methods and tools, and (d) develop a set of genetic tools to enhance efficient positional cloning. These resources will both improve discovery and cloning of QTL in Nasonia, and its utility to other research systems for comparative genetic and genomic research. The proposed tool development will greatly enhance the Nasonia system as a genetic and comparative model, and allow fuller utilization of the Nasonia genome. It has the strong support of the Nasonia and other relevant research communities.