Application of comparative genomics to narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) using sequence information from...

The completion of genome-sequencing initiatives for model plants and EST databases for major crop species provides a large resource for gaining fundamental knowledge of complex gene interactions and the functional significance of proteins. There are increasingly numerous opportunities to transfer this information to other plant species with uncharacterized genomes and make advances in genome analysis, gene expression, and predicted protein function. In this study, we have used DNA sequences from soybean and Arabidopsis to determine the feasibility of applying comparative genomics to narrow-leafed lupin. We have used transcribed sequences from soybean and showed that a high proportion cross hybridize to lupin DNA, identifying similar genes and providing landmarks for estimating the degree of chromosomal synteny between species. To further investigate comparative relationships in this study, a detailed analysis of three lupin genes and comparison of orthologs from soybean and Arabidopsis shows that, in some cases, gene structure and expression are highly conserved and their proteins may have similar function. In other cases, genes show variation in expression profiles indicating alternative functions across species. The advantages and limitation of using soybean and Arabidopsis sequences for comparative genomics in lupins are discussed.