Researchers use Roche's Genome Sequencer System to sequence and assemble the Pinot Noir Genome

Roche Diagnostics and 454 Life Sciences, 454 Life Sciences was acquired by Roche earlier this year, today announced that researchers from the Istituto Agrario San Michele all'Adige and Myriad Genetics have used the company’s first generation instrument, the Genome Sequencer 20 System, to sequence and assemble the genome of the grape species Pinot Noir. Genome Sequencer data was used in conjunction with Sanger data to produce an assembled genome of 477 million bases in length with 29,585 predicted genes. The study appeared today in the journal PLoS ONE.

Pinot Noir is a red wine grape from the species Vitis vinifera and is one of the most popular varietals in the world.   The red grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France, but is also widely grown in many regions throughout the world.   The Grapevine Genome Initiative was established with the aim of accelerating the breeding of this difficult perennial species. The Pinot Noir genome sequence will aid growers breed grapes for resistance against aggressive micro-organisms, which are currently controlled by massive use of agrochemicals, without altering wine quality.

“Sequencing of the Pinot Noir genome will introduce a new era in the molecular breeding of grape, and further grape’s potential as a model for fruit tree genetics.” said Dr. Riccardo Velasco, PhD, lead author of the study and Head of Genetics and Molecular Biology at Italy’s Istituto Agrario San Michele all'Adige. “Highly efficient 454 Sequencing enabled us to quickly generate whole genome shot gun data, which was crucial in identifying polymorphic sites throughout the genome, and in conjunction with Sanger sequencing, allowed us to assemble a high quality draft genome.”

The Pinot Noir genome was assembled into 2,093 metacontigs which spanned 477.1 million nucleotides, anchored to 19 linkage groups. 29,585 genes were predicted from the sequence with many candidate genes implicated in traits relevant to grapevine cultivation such as those influencing wine quality and those connected with susceptibility to grape pathogens. approximately 2,000,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified with one or more SNPs detected in 87 percent of genes. Furthermore, the study describes the genome content in repeats and transposons, miRNAs, tRNAs, snRNAs, rRNAs, snoRNAs, and transcription factor genes.

For additional information, please visit http://www.454.com. For more information on the technology, visit www.roche-applied-science.com/sis/sequencing.

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world’s biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a market leader in virology and active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous system. In 2006, sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totaled 33.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 75,000 worldwide and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Roche’s Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. For further information, please visit our website at www.roche.com. 

For more information please contact:
Lori McLaughlin
Corporate Communications
317.521.3112