[A strategy based on comparative genomics to align ESTs of maize]

In this study, a new strategy to locate ESTs on maize linkage groups was described. In the strategy, the rice (Oryza sativa L.) genomic sequence database of was employed to locate maize EST on rice linkage groups, and then to locate on maize linkage group by comparative genetics mapping between rice and maize genome. The aligned ESTs information should available for further study on genomics and gene cloning. As an example, 139 ESTs of maize were assayed, and 96 maize ESTs (69%) were homologous with rice genomic sequence, 55% (77/139) ESTs were located on maize linkage groups based on the strategy, indicating that the locating approach of ESTs is feasible and available.