An improved Plasmodium cynomolgi genome assembly reveals an unexpected methyltransferase gene expansion.

Pasini, E. M., Böhme, U., Rutledge, G. G., Voorberg-Van der Wel, A., Sanders, M., Berriman, M., Kocken, C. H.M. and Otto, T. D. (2017) An improved Plasmodium cynomolgi genome assembly reveals an unexpected methyltransferase gene expansion. Wellcome Open Research, 2, 42. (doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.11864.1) (PMID:28748222) (PMCID:PMC5500898)

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Abstract

Background: Plasmodium cynomolgi, a non-human primate malaria parasite species, has been an important model parasite since its discovery in 1907. Similarities in the biology of P. cynomolgi to the closely related, but less tractable, human malaria parasite P. vivax make it the model parasite of choice for liver biology and vaccine studies pertinent to P. vivax malaria. Molecular and genome-scale studies of P. cynomolgi have relied on the current reference genome sequence, which remains highly fragmented with 1,649 unassigned scaffolds and little representation of the subtelomeres. Methods: Using long-read sequence data (Pacific Biosciences SMRT technology), we assembled and annotated a new reference genome sequence, PcyM, sourced from an Indian rhesus monkey. We compare the newly assembled genome sequence with those of several other Plasmodium species, including a re-annotated P. coatneyi assembly. Results: The new PcyM genome assembly is of significantly higher quality than the existing reference, comprising only 56 pieces, no gaps and an improved average gene length. Detailed manual curation has ensured a comprehensive annotation of the genome with 6,632 genes, nearly 1,000 more than previously attributed to P. cynomolgi. The new assembly also has an improved representation of the subtelomeric regions, which account for nearly 40% of the sequence. Within the subtelomeres, we identified more than 1300 Plasmodium interspersed repeat (pir) genes, as well as a striking expansion of 36 methyltransferase pseudogenes that originated from a single copy on chromosome 9. Conclusions: The manually curated PcyM reference genome sequence is an important new resource for the malaria research community. The high quality and contiguity of the data have enabled the discovery of a novel expansion of methyltransferase in the subtelomeres, and illustrates the new comparative genomics capabilities that are being unlocked by complete reference genomes.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Otto, Professor Thomas
Authors: Pasini, E. M., Böhme, U., Rutledge, G. G., Voorberg-Van der Wel, A., Sanders, M., Berriman, M., Kocken, C. H.M., and Otto, T. D.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Wellcome Open Research
Publisher:F1000Research
ISSN:2398-502X
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 Pasini EM et al.
First Published:First published in Wellcome Open Research 2: 42
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
506411EvimalarAndrew WatersEuropean Commission (EC)EVIMALAR 242095III - PARASITOLOGY