Toward Universal Forward Genetics: Using a Draft Genome Sequence of the Nematode Oscheius tipulae To Identify Mutations Affecting Vulva Development

摘要

Mapping-by-sequencing has become a standard method to map and identify phenotype-causing mutations in model species. Here, we show that a fragmented draft assembly is sufficient to perform mapping-by-sequencing in nonmodel species. We generated a draft assembly and annotation of the genome of the free-living nematode Oscheius tipulae , a distant relative of the model Caenorhabditis elegans . We used this draft to identify the likely causative mutations at the O. tipulae cov -3 locus, which affect vulval development. The cov-3 locus encodes the O. tipulae ortholog of C. elegans [mig-13][1] , and we further show that [Cel-mig-13][1] mutants also have an unsuspected vulval-development phenotype. In a virtuous circle, we were able to use the linkage information collected during mutant mapping to improve the genome assembly. These results showcase the promise of genome-enabled forward genetics in nonmodel species. [1]: http://www.wormbase.org/db/get?name=WBGene00003245;class=Gene