Characterization of genes of unknown function preferentially expressed during reproductive development in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)

• Grant number: 06/60477-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2007
• End date: April 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Carnier Dornelas
• Grantee: Marcelo Carnier Dornelas
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Around 29.7 per cent of the total of ESTs generated by the Sucest project correspond to proteins of unknown function. A significant proportion of these sequences is derived from libraries of inflorescences. The control of florescence is of great importance in the cultivation of sugarcane and there are very few molecular studies of reproductive development in gramineous plants. Thus, the intention is to use the sequences generated by Sucest for the identification and characterization of evolutively preserved proteins of unknown function, preferably expressed during reproductive development in sugarcane. To this end, use will be made of in-silico data mining, techniques of studies of genetic expression such as RT-PCR and hybridization in situ and the production of transgenic plant-models containing altered forms of the genes in question. We hope that with this approach important information will be obtained with respect to the molecular control of reproductive development in sugar cane and in gramineous plants in general. (AU)