Method for sequencing and analyzing huge plant genomes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03239
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43060:System genome science-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Kasahara Masahiro 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (60376605)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ゲノム / ゲノムアセンブリ / ロングリード / Ｈｉ－Ｃ / 遺伝子 / 染色体 / アルゴリズム / 反復配列

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed methods and know-how for determining the genome sequence of the Japanese cedar genome, whose huge size is approximately three times that of the human genome and is extremely rich in repeat sequences, with high continuity and accuracy at the lowest possible cost and efforts. We were able to accurately correspond the majority of the Japanese cedar genome to eleven chromosomes, and developed a systematic method for identifying genes on genomes rich in repeat sequences. To our knowledge, this became the world's highest precision genome sequence determination (in terms of continuity and gene discovery) for coniferous trees.

Free Research Field

ゲノム情報科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本成果により、無花粉スギをはじめとして花粉症対策のために必要な研究が大きく加速された。また、スギの経済的価値が将来的に高まるように、経済的に有用な形質を持ったスギ品種をより短期間に開発するための基盤が形成された。また、スギのみならず、他の樹種に対してもゲノム配列の解読と解析をより短期間に低予算で行うことができるようになり、他種に対してもゲノム情報を活用した短期間での品種改良への道を開いた。