Genetic and genomic tools for the emerging model organsism, Nasonia

描述（由申请人提供）：纳索尼亚是一个由四种昆虫组成的属，它们正迅速成为一个模式系统，特别是在复杂性状、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、代时间短、雄性单倍体、干扰物种、可见和分子标记，以及丰富的生物学和医学相关表型。性别决定的形式，被称为单倍体，使纳索尼亚特别适合基因研究。雌性是二倍体，由受精卵发育而来，而雄性是单倍体，由未受精卵孤雌发育而来。这使得遗传学家可以在复杂的真核生物中利用单倍体遗传学的许多优点。此外，该属的4个物种是可互育的（在去除内共生菌沃尔巴克氏体后），促进了物种间基因的移动，从而实现了数量性状位点（QTL）的有效定位克隆。目前，已完成了玻璃翅螨（Nv）的全（6X）基因组测序和干涉虫种giraulti （Ng）和longicornis （Nl）的部分（1X）基因组测序。该基因组计划提供了丰富的种间多态性（snp, 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出来，其他的研究工作也在进行中，以解剖翅膀发育、胚胎发育、孤雌生殖、细菌-宿主相互作用、宿主偏好、性别决定、滞育、雄性信息素、求爱和繁殖的遗传基础。此外，系统RNAi和转化最近在纳索尼亚得到证实。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)利用高效的阵列方法和种间杂交完成纳索尼亚支架的绘制，(b)分析和开发利用纳索尼亚转录组的工具，(c)改进RNAi和转基因方法和工具，(d)开发一套遗传工具来提高高效的位置克隆。这些资源将促进纳索尼亚QTL的发现和克隆，并将其应用于其他比较遗传和基因组研究系统。所提出的工具开发将极大地增强纳索尼亚系统作为遗传和比较模型，并允许更充分地利用纳索尼亚基因组。它得到了Nasonia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.