Full-Length cDNA and Other DNA Resources for Tomato Functional Genomics

Abstract

As a part of National Bio-Resource Project Tomato (NBRP tomato, MEXT, Japan), Kazusa DNA Research Institute has been developing DNA-level resources. The major focus of our effort is to sequence the full-length cDNA clones derived from dwarf cultivar Micro-Tom. In the year 2008, the full-length cDNA sequencing-project is accelerated by the support of National Bio-Resource Project Genome Program. In April 2009, we will release full-length sequences of more than 13,000 cDNA clones. Information including the similarity to Arabidopsis and rice genes, the prediction of the function of encoded proteins, and the similarity to tomato genome sequences will be provided as well in the database KaFTom (http://www.pgb.kazusa.or.jp/kaftom/). The second focus of our effort is to collect tomato promoter clones. Since the number of tomato promoters with experimentally confirmed expression patterns is limited, a collection of promoters with various tissue-specificity will be usefull for tomato functional genomics.