Genetical Resources

Develop techniques in comparative genomics, functional and environment

Keywords

Collection mutants/ transgenic / marine models / gene / exploration functional

Expertise

In the context of an increased volume of available genomic information, EMBRC-France develops research in comparative genomics, functional and environmental on selected experimental models. For many marine models, scientific teams EMBRC France was able to develop mutants or transgenic lines and functional analysis methods. Genetic resources developed in EMBRC-France will meet the growing demand for tools for the functional exploration of models of special biological, ecological and applied.

The models studied in EMBRC-France were selected based on three criteria: the teams CNRS / UPMC marine stations are world leaders in the exploration of these models; models federate a well-identified international community; models have potential to answer important biological questions.

  • Ectocarpus: : macroalgal system model
  • Phaeodactylum tricornutum : Diatom model for the study of environmental responses   
  • Ostreococcus tauri : Picoalgal model for the study of environmental responses and genome evolution 
  • Ascidies : Model systems to study the evolution of chordates
  • Paracentrotus : Historical model for the study of gene regulatory networks underlying the development
  • Clytia : New cnidarian model for the development and evolution
  • Synechococcus : System model for the study of the physiology of cyanobacteria and genome evolution
  • Vibrio : Case Study for the plasticity of the genome and pathogenicity
  • Photobacterium angustum : Bacteria model for the study of stress due to UV and photoheterotrophy
  • Zobellia galactanivorans : model for the study of the bioconversion of marine polysaccharides
  • Marinobacter :  hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria

Objectives for 2015

Create pilot collections of transcription factors for the genome of the microalgae Ostreococcus and Phaeodactylum.
Develop transgenic resource (GFP reporter, RNAi, targeted mutagenesis) for the metazoans Clytia, Phallusia and Paracentrotus. 
Pilot genetic resource for the prokaryotes Vibrio, Photobacterium and Synechococcus

Landmarks

Optimise vectors and protocols for targeted gene inactivation in Phaeodactylum and Ostreococcus
Optimise transformation vectors and protocols for metazoans
Optimise protocols for DNA transfer and gene knock-out in prokaryotes
Establish genetic resources centres for the microalgae Ostreococcus and Phaeodactylum, the metazoans Clytia, Phallusia and Paracentrotus and the prokaryotes Vibrio, Synechococcus and PhotobacteriumPublications

  • Shukla A, Biswas A, Blot N, Partensky F, Karty JA, Hammad LA, Garczarek L, Gutu A, Schluchter WM, Kehoe DM (2012) Phycoerythrin-specific bilin lyase-isomerase controls blue-green chromatic acclimation in marine Synechococcus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109: 20136-20141.
  • Goudenège D, Labreuche Y, Krin E, Ansquer D, Mangenot S, Calteau A, Médigue C, Mazel D, Polz MF, Le Roux F. (2013) Comparative genomics of pathogenic lineages of Vibrio nigripulchritudo identifies virulence-associated traits. ISME J. 7(10): 1985-96.
  • Lozano JC, Schatt P, Botebol H, Vergé V, Lesuisse E, Blain S, Carré I and Bouget FY. Efficient gene targeting and foreign DNA removal by homologous recombination in the picoeukaryote Ostreococcus. Plant Journal (in revision).

Sectors of application

BIOLOGY │HEALTH and NUTRITION │ECOLOGY  ENVIRONMENT │BIOTECHNOLOGIES │AQUACULTURE │AGRONOMICS