Construction and characterization of a normalized cDNA library of Nannochloropsis oculata(Eustigmatophyceae)

We constructed and characterized a normalized cDNA library of Nannochloropsis oculata CS-179,and obtained 905 nonredundant sequences(NRSs) ranging from 431-1 756 bp in length.Among them,496 were very similar to nonredundant ones in the GenBank(E ≤1.0e-05),and 349 ESTs had significant hits with the clusters of eukaryotic orthologous groups(KOG).Bases G and/or C at the third position of codons of 14 amino acid residues suggested a strong bias in the conserved domain of 362 NRSs(>60%).We also identified the unigenes encoding phosphorus and nitrogen transporters,suggesting that N.oculata could efficiently transport and metabolize phosphorus and nitrogen,and recognized the unigenes that involved in biosynthesis and storage of both fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs),which will facilitate the demonstration of eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) biosynthesis pathway of N.oculata.In comparison with the original cDNA library,the normalized library significantly increased the efficiencies of random sequencing and rarely expressed genes discovering,and decreased the frequency of abundant gene sequences.

Analysis of expressed sequence tags （ESTs） from a normalized cDNA library and isolation of EST simple sequence repeats from the invasive cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis

The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, is a serious and invasive pest. At present, genetic resources for studying P. solenopsis are limited, and this negatively affects genetic research on the organism and, consequently, translational work to improve management of this pest. In the present study, expressed sequence tags （ESTs） were analyzed from a normalized complementary DNA library of/？. solenopsis. In addition, EST-derived microsatellite loci （also known as simple sequence repeats or SSRs） were isolated and characterized. A total of 1107 high-quality ESTs were acquired from the library. Clustering and assembly analysis resulted in 785 unigenes, which were classified functionally into 23 categories according to the Gene Ontology database. Seven EST-based SSR markers were developed in this study and are expected to be useful in characterizing how this invasive species was introduced, as well as providing insights into its genetic microevolution.

Construction of a Full-Length cDNA Library of Gossypium hirsutum L. and Identification of Two MADS-Box Genes

A full-length normalized cDNA library for the flower development stages of short-season cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） （CCRI36） was constructed. A total of 3 421 clones were randomly selected for sequencing, with a total of 3 175 effective sequences obtained after removal of empty-carriers and low-quality sequences. Clustering the 3 175 high-quality expressed sequence tags （ESTs） resulted in a set of 2 906 non-redundant sequences comprised of 233 contigs and 2 673 singletons. Comparative analyses indicated that 913 （43.6%） of the unigenes had homologues with function-known genes or functionassumed genes in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. In addition, 763 （36.4%） of the unigenes were functionally classified using Gene Ontology hierarchy. Through EST alignment and the screening method, the full-length cDNA of two MADS-box genes viz., GhMADSll and GhMADS12 were acquired. These genes may play a role in flower development. Phylogenetie analysis indicated that GhMADS11 and GhMADS12 had high homology and close evolutionary relationship with AGL2/SEP-type and PI-type genes, respectively. The expression of both GhMADSll and GhMADS12, genes was high in reproductive organs. In floral organs, GhMADSll expression was high in petals （whor12） and ovules, while GhMADS12 expression was high in petals （whor12） and stamens （whor13）. Results show that the EST strategy based on a normalized cDNA library is an effective method for gene identification. The study provides more insights for future molecular research on the regulation mechanism of cotton flower development.