Search bioRxiv⌕ Search

Biology subjects

Genomics

Explore bioRxiv genomics preprints on sequencing, gene expression and genetic variation. Read source abstracts and verify methods in the manuscript; preprints are not peer reviewed.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

The genome of the toxic invasive species Heracleum sosnowskyi carries an increased number of genes despite the absence of recent whole-genome duplications

Heracleum sosnowskyi, belonging to a group of giant hogweeds, is a plant with large effects on ecosystems and human health. It is an invasive species that contributes to the deterioration of grassland ecosystems. The ability of H. sosnowskyi to produce linear furanocoumarins (FCs), photosensitizing compounds, makes it very dangerous. At the same time, linear FCs are compounds with high pharmaceutical value that are used in skin disease therapies. Despite this high importance, it has not been the focus of genetic and genomic studies. Here, we report a chromosome-scale assembly of the Sosnowskys hogweed genome. Genomic analysis revealed an unusually high number of genes (55 206) in the hogweed genome, in contrast to the 25-35 thousand found in most plants. However, we did not find any traces of recent whole genome duplications not shared with its confamiliar, Daucus carota (carrot), which has approximately thirty thousand genes. The analysis of the genomic proximity of duplicated genes indicates tandem duplications as a main reason for this increase. We performed a genome-wide search of the genes of the FC biosynthesis pathway and their expression in aboveground plant parts. Using a combination of expression data and phylogenetic analysis, we found candidate genes for psoralen synthase and experimentally showed the activity of one of them using a heterologous yeast expression system. These findings expand our knowledge on the evolution of gene space in plants and lay a foundation for further analysis of hogweed as an invasive plant and as a source of FCs.

genomics↗

Shark and ray genome size estimation: methodological optimization for inclusive and controllable biodiversity genomics

Estimate of nuclear DNA content serves as an independent tool for validating the completeness of whole genome sequences and investigating the among-species variation of genome sizes, but for some species, the requirement of fresh cells makes this tool highly inaccessible. Here we focused on elasmobranch species (sharks and rays), and using flow cytometry or quantitative PCR (qPCR), estimated the nuclear DNA contents of brownbanded bamboo shark, white spotted bamboo shark, zebra shark, small-spotted catshark, sandbar shark, slendertail lanternshark, megamouth shark, red stingray, and ocellate spot skate. Our results revealed their genome sizes spanning from 3.40 pg (for ocellate spot skate) to 13.34 pg (for slendertail lanternshark), in accordance with the huge variation of genome sizes already documented for elasmobranchs. Our improved qPCR-based method enabled accurate genome size estimation without using live cells, which has been a severe limitation with elasmobranchs. These findings and our methodology are expected to contribute to better understanding of the diversity of genome sizes in elasmobranchs even including species with limited availability of fresh tissue materials. It will also help validate the completeness of already obtained or anticipated whole genome sequences.

genomics↗

De novo assembly of the black flounder genome. Why do pleuronectiformes have such a small genome size?

Black flounder (Paralichthys orbignyanus) is an economically important ma-rine fish with aquaculture potential in Argentina due to its market value. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome using an Illumina sequencing technology. We started with two independent libraries (from one female and one pool of females; each with 150 bp paired-end reads, a mean insert length of 350 bp, and >35 X-fold coverage). Each library was assembled separately using SOAPdenovo2 and the resulting contigs were scaffolded with SSPACE3 before gaps were filled with GapCloser. In vertebrates, including teleosts, the number of transposable elements (TEs) is related to genome size, but it remains unclear whether the size of introns and exons also plays a role. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to test whether the small genome size of Pleuronectiformes is related to the size of their introns and exons. The assemblies re-sulted in a genome size of [~]538 Mbp (41.35% GC content, 0.11% undetermined bases). Analysis of the assemblies at the core genes level (subset of the 458 universally ex-pressed KOG families) revealed that more than 98% of core genes are present, with more than 78% of them having more than 50% coverage. This indicates a fairly complete and accurate genome at the coding sequence level. Prediction of genes based on statistical predictors (geneid) and sequence-based predictors (Exonerate, using a closely related species, Paralichthys olivaceus, as a reference) was performed. This revealed 25,231 protein-coding genes, 445 tRNAs, 3 rRNAs, and more than 1,500 non-coding RNAs of other types (including a complete set of spliceosomes and several types of snoRNA and miRNA). As a result, this study concluded that the reduced genome size of flounders is related to a reduction in transcript size, mainly through a reduction in exon number, but also through a reduction in large introns. Thus, both components seem to be involved in the strategy of genome reduction in Pleuronectiformes.

genomics↗

Genome structure and population genomics of the canine heartworm Dirofilaria immitis

The heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, is a filarial parasitic nematode responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in wild and domesticated canids. Resistance to macrocyclic lactone drug prevention represents a significant threat to parasite control and has prompted investigations to understand the genetic determinants of resistance. This study aimed to improve the genomic resources of D. immitis to enable a more precise understanding of how genetic variation is distributed within and between parasite populations worldwide, which will inform the likelihood and rate by which parasites, and in turn, resistant alleles, might spread. We have guided the scaffolding of a recently published genome assembly for D. immitis (ICBAS_JMDir_1.0) using the chromosomal-scale reference genomes of Brugia malayi and Onchocerca volvulus, resulting in an 89.5 Mb assembly composed of four autosomal- and one X-linked chromosomal-scale scaffolds representing 99.7% of the genome. Publicly available and new whole-genome sequencing data from 32 D. immitis samples from Australia, Italy and the USA were assessed using principal component analysis, nucleotide diversity (Pi) and absolute genetic divergence (Dxy) to characterise the global genetic structure and measure within- and between population diversity. These population genetic analyses revealed broad-scale genetic structure among globally diverse samples and differences in genetic diversity between populations; however, fine-scale subpopulation analysis was limited and biased by differences between sample types. Finally, we mapped SNPs previously associated with macrocyclic lactone resistance in the new genome assembly, revealing physical linkage of high-priority variants on chromosome 3, and determined their frequency in the studied populations. This new chromosomal assembly for D. immitis now allows for a more precise investigation of selection on genome-wide genetic variation and will enhance our understanding of parasite transmission and the spread of genetic variants responsible for resistance to treatment.

genomics↗

Whole genome assembly and annotation of the clover root weevil (Sitona obsoletus) using a combination of Illumina, 10X Genomics and MinION sequencing

Weevils are a highly diversified taxon, comprising about 70,000 described species that include many agricultural pests, biological control agents, and nutrient recyclers. Despite their importance and vast diversity, the number of sequenced genomes for the weevil family is still low (n=15). Here, we present a high-quality and contiguous genome assembly of Sitona obsoletus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), a widespread invasive forage pest that infests clover species (Trifolium spp.) worldwide. We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the S. obsoletus genome using a hybrid approach that employed Nanopore long reads, 10X Chromium linked reads, Illumina short reads for assembly, and mRNA short read sequencing of various developmental stages for annotation. Our final annotated genome has a size of 1.2 Gb, with an N50 length of 313.85 kb. Benchmarking analyses against conserved single-copy Orthologs (BUSCO) found that over 94% of the genes were complete from each of the three BUSCO databases (Eukaryota, Insecta, and Arthropoda). A total of 9,777 protein-coding genes were annotated using the MAKER2 pipeline, of which 65% were functionally annotated. The annotated repeat elements make up 84.26% of the genome. The high-quality annotated genome of the weevil will facilitate a wide range of genetic, genomic, and phylogenetic studies on invasive weevils, as well as other weevil species in the subfamily Entiminae.

genomics↗

Detecting significantly recurrent genomic connections from simple and complex rearrangements in the cancer genome

The detection of somatic genetic alterations that recur across cancer genomes more than expected by chance has been a major goal of cancer genomics, as these alterations are enriched for "driver" events that promote cancer. Multiple methods have been developed to detect driver point mutations and copy-number variants, but methods to detect driver rearrangements have largely not been pursued. Unlike point mutations and copy-number alterations, which can be assigned to a single genomic locus, rearrangements connect two distant genomic loci, and possibly more in the case of complex or clustered events. Here, we explore genomic features that predict the rate at which any pair of loci will be connected by rearrangements and describe two methods to detect rearrangements that recur more often than this background rate. The first, SVSig-2D, detects pairs of loci that are directly connected by a single rearrangement; the second, SVSig-2Dc also detects loci that are recurrently connected indirectly through two or more rearrangements. When applied to a pan-cancer dataset of over 2,500 cancers, these methods identified 80 significantly recurrent simple rearrangements and 29 complex rearrangements, including both known and novel events. Intriguingly, though both recurrent simple and complex rearrangements tended to be tissue-specific, this was less true for the complex events. The detection of recurrent rearrangements with methods such as these will be an essential component of cancer genomics in the whole-genome sequencing era.

genomics↗

Chromosome-level haplotype-resolved genome assembly provides insights into the highly heterozygous genome of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is an important forage grass, providing a major source of feed for ruminants in temperate regions. Due to its highly heterozygous and repeat-rich genome, high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies are scarce for Italian ryegrass. Here, we sequenced the genome of a genotype from the Italian ryegrass cultivar Rabiosa (hereafter referred to as Rabiosa), and we obtained Oxford Nanopore Technologies long reads ([~]60-fold coverage), Illumina short reads ([~]85-fold coverage) and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture data ([~]60-fold coverage). With Rabiosa as the parent, we constructed an F1 population consisting of 305 individuals, which were genotyped by reduced representation sequencing for linkage map construction and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Using whole-genome sequencing data of Rabiosa and the genetic linkage map, we first generated a chromosome-level unphased haploid assembly (scaffold N50 of 338.75 Mb, total BUSCO score of 94.60%). Then, based on the unphased assembly and a reference-based phasing approach, we generated a chromosome-level haplotype-resolved assembly containing both haplotypes (scaffold N50 of [~]250 Mb and total BUSCO score of [~]90% for each haplotype). Between the two haplotypes of Rabiosa, we observed a highly collinear gene order at chromosome level and a high sequence variation at local level. With a graph-based reference built from the unphased and the haplotype-resolved assemblies of Rabiosa, we conducted a QTL analysis, and two QTL significantly associated with stem rust resistance were detected. The genome assemblies of Rabiosa will serve as invaluable genomic resources to facilitate genomic applications in forage grass research and breeding.

genomics↗

Using The Cancer Genome Atlas from cBioPortal to Develop Genomic Datasets for Machine Learning Assisted Cancer Treatment

Predicting the impact of genetic mutations is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer. Polymorphism Phenotyping (PolyPhen) and Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) are key tools for assessing how amino acid substitutions affect protein function and mutation pathogenicity. To our knowledge, no ready-to-use genomic dataset exists for prediction models to identify potentially harmful mutations, which could support research and clinical decisions. This study develops genomic and non-genomic datasets using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) from cBioPortal and applies machine learning models to predict PolyPhen and SIFT scores. We explore three classification models: Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and an ensemble RF-XGBoost model. Experimental results show that genomic data yields more accurate predictions than non-genomic data. The ensemble RF-XGBoost model performs best on genomic data, achieving average accuracies of 88.43% for PolyPhen and 95.13% for SIFT, highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence in genetic mutation analysis for disease treatment.

genomics↗

A new genome assembly of the pea cultivar Cameor provides resources for functional genomics and genetics

Significant improvements in sequencing technologies have allowed the development of more contiguous genome assemblies in many plant species. The pea genome is characterized by its richness in repeated elements and its long and complex centromeres. This makes its assembly challenging. In this paper, we present an improved version of the genome sequence of the French cultivar Cameor. This sequence was obtained by combining Nanopore and PacBio long-read sequencing, Hi-C contact maps and Bionano maps. The assembly of centromeres was refined using a combination of FISH and ultra-long Nanopore read analyses. Overall, Cameor_v2 genome assembly is a highly continuous pea genome assembly with small total gap size and a large contig N50. In this version, the orientation of chromosomes was revised according to internationally accepted karyotype rules. Gene annotation statistics indicated a high completeness of gene sequences, with most gene sequences with 3 and 5 UTR. This genome assembly with its associated data constitute a useful resource for pea genetics, comparative mapping and functional genomics.

genomics↗

First Whole-Genome Assembly of the Galapagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) Using Oxford Nanopore Sequencing to Advance Conservation Genomics in a Critically Endangered Seabird

The Galapagos petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) is a critically endangered procellariiform seabird endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Once abundant, its populations have sharply declined due to invasive predators, habitat degradation, and destruction of nest burrows. Although the species is distributed across several islands, the demographics of each population and their genetic relationships are poorly understood. To facilitate future studies of population structure and connectivity, we present the first high-quality reference genome for the Galapagos petrel. The genome was assembled from ultra-long Oxford Nanopore sequence data collected from an adult female sampled on San Cristobal Island. Sequencing was performed at the Galapagos Science Center, enabling local capacity-building and compliance with strict sample import-export regulations of endangered species. The final nuclear genome assembly spans 1.35 Gb in length, with average coverage of 36.07x, scaffold N50 of 74.2 Mb, and a BUSCO aves lineage completeness of 99.95%. The genome comprises 41 pseudo-chromosomes, with 23 spanning from telomere to telomere and 16, including W and Z chromosomes, containing a single telomere. Chromosomal-level scaffolding by reference was performed using the genome of Corys shearwater (Calonectris borealis) GCA_964196065.2 (Aranega et al., 2024), a related species. The Galapagos petrel reference genome represents a foundational tool for comparative genomics, conservation biology, and functional studies of island-endemic avifauna. It will also facilitate future efforts to characterize genetic diversity, structural variation, and adaptive responses in this critically endangered species.

genomics↗

The plastid genome of the non-photosynthetic plant Rhopalocnemis phalloides is one of the most polymorphic genomes known

The common ancestor of plants in the Balanophoraceae family lost the ability to photosynthesize, and all several dozen extant species of this family feed exclusively by parasitizing other plants. Previous studies have shown that the plastid genomes of Balanophoraceae present numerous unusual features, including an extraordinarily increased rate of mutation accumulation without an observable weakening of natural selection acting on the genes. This study aims to test the hypothesis that the increased rate of mutation accumulation could have led to exceptionally high levels of intraspecific polymorphism in Balanophoraceae. To this end, we studied the plastid genomes of 7 samples of the species Rhopalocnemis phalloides. Although all 7 plastid genomes possessed the same genes arranged in the same order, the level of polymorphism was indeed extremely high, possibly the highest among all known genomes of any living organisms. Specifically, the average genome-wide percent identity of the plastid genomes of Rhopalocnemis phalloides was 68.7%, and the average percent identity of the CDSs was 68.9%. Additionally, during this study, we discovered 60 taxonomically misclassified plastid genomes in NCBI databases; this result has independent value.

genomics↗

Genomic Analysis Reveals Recent Population Decline and Exceptionally Low Genome-Wide Heterozygosity of the Critically Endangered Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi (Aves: Accipitridae)

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), is one of the rarest eagles in the world and is the national bird of the Philippines. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a critically endangered raptor and has been the subject of an intensive captive breeding program which started more than 30 years ago to ensure the survival and conservation of the species. To infer the genetic diversity and demographic history of the Philippine Eagle, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 35 individuals under the captive breeding program of the Philippine Eagle Foundation. Phylogenetic analysis of the draft reference sequence generated in this study placed P. jefferyi within the subfamily Circaetinae of Accipitridae. Demographic history reconstruction from genome-wide variants revealed two historical bottlenecks, as well as an ongoing population decline which was found to predate documented deforestation in the Philippines. This observation suggests that unobserved natural or anthropogenic factors might have severely affected the Philippine Eagle population long before habitat fragmentation. Genome-wide heterozygosity estimates placed the Philippine Eagle as having one of the lowest genome-wide heterozygosity levels measured among raptors. This highlights the precarious genetic state of the Philippine Eagle, as critically low heterozygosity raises risks of inbreeding depression, reduced reproductive success, and increased vulnerability to diseases, climate change, and habitat loss. The genomic resources generated in this study can therefore guide conservation strategies such as breeding program design, genetic monitoring, and other efforts to diversify existing populations to ensure both demographic stability and genetic resilience of the Philippine Eagle. Subject AreasPhilippine Eagle, Genomics, Genome-wide heterozygosity, Demographic History, Conservation, Biodiversity, Bioinformatics

genomics↗

Frequent Whole-Genome Duplication Events Drive the Genomic Evolution of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

BackgroundTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with poor survival rate and high genomic instability, generating complex tumour genomes. However, the processes that generate this complexity are poorly studied in longitudinal samples. Here, we study the temporal dynamics of TNBC somatic mutations, revealing major transitions in tumour genome evolution, from diagnostic biopsies, through treatment, to cancer remission or recurrence. MethodsDeep whole exome sequencing and CUTseq, a reduced representation whole genome sequencing approach, were performed in parallel, to comprehensively identify short nucleotide variants (SNVs), copy number alterations (CNAs) and aneuploidies. Tumour samples (N=74) from 22 patients were profiled before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), and encompassed spatially diverse samples from multiple primary breast tumours, to allow tracking of the gain and loss of candidate driver variants over time. ResultsGenome-wide SNV mutational burden remained stable across disease progression and RCB classes. However, recurrent SNVs were identified in several known TNBC driver genes in response to treatment, with TP53, MICA, CYP2D6, BRCA1, and BRCA2 being frequently altered. The candidate driver variants in these genes frequently exhibited dynamic changes throughout the course of a patients treatment, with the original SNVs in pre-treatment samples often lost, while novel variants in the same genes emerged at subsequent time points. In contrast to the stable genome-wide SNV burdens, dramatic changes in chromosome structure were seen in all tumours, with abundant CNAs and chromosome arm aneuploidies seen in pre-treatment samples, followed by frequent loss of these alterations post-treatment, and their re-emergence at recurrence. Whole genome duplication (WGD) events appear to drive these dynamics, with a higher frequency of pre-treatment WGD seen in patients with the best response to NACT. ConclusionsComprehensive longitudinal profiling of the TNBC genome demonstrates the complex interplay of SNVs and structural alterations during tumour progression, leading to diverse evolutionary trajectories impacting patient outcomes. Complex mutational patterns encompassing entire chromosomes emerge during progression, with WGD events making major contributions to intra-tumour heterogeneity, and emerging as a potential candidate biomarker of response at both tumour establishment and recurrence.

genomics↗

Extensive genomic diversity among Mycobacterium marinum strains revealed by whole genome sequencing

Mycobacterium marinum is the causative agent for the tuberculosis-like disease mycobacteriosis in fish and skin lesions in humans. Ubiquitous in its geographical distribution, M. marinum is known to occupy diverse fish as hosts. However, information about its genomic diversity is limited. Here, we provide the genome sequences for 15 M. marinum strains isolated from infected humans and fish. Comparative genomic analysis of these and four available genomes of the M. marinum strains M, E11, MB2 and Europe reveal high genomic diversity among the strains, leading to the conclusion that M. marinum should be divided into two different clusters, the \"M\"- and the \"Aronson\"-type. We suggest that these two clusters should be considered, if not two separate species, at least two M. marinum subspecies. Our data also show that the M. marinum pan-genome for both groups is open and expanding and we provide data showing high number of mutational hotspots in M. marinum relative to other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This high genomic diversity might be related to that M. marinum occupy different ecological niches.

genomics↗

Emergence and features of the multipartite genome structure of the family Burkholderiaceae revealed through comparative and evolutionary genomics

The multipartite genome structure is found in a diverse group of important symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria; however, the advantage of this genome structure remains incompletely understood. Here, we perform comparative genomics of hundreds of finished {beta}-proteobacterial genomes to study the role and emergence of multipartite genomes. Nearly all essential secondary replicons (chromids) of the {beta}-proteobacteria are found in the family Burkholderiaceae. These replicons arose from just two plasmid acquisition events, and they were likely stabilized early in their evolution by the presence of core genes, at least some of which were likely acquired through an inter-replicon translocation event. On average, Burkholderiaceae genera with multipartite genomes had a larger total genome size, but smaller chromosome, than genera without secondary replicons. Pangenome-level functional enrichment analyses suggested that inter-replicon functional biases are partially driven by the enrichment of secondary replicons in the accessory pangenome fraction. Nevertheless, the small overlap in orthologous groups present in each replicons pangenome indicates a clear functional separation of the replicons. Chromids appeared biased to environmental adaptation, as the functional categories enriched on chromids were also over-represented on the chromosomes of the environmental genera (Paraburkholderia, Cupriavidus) compared to the pathogenic genera (Burkholderia, Ralstonia). Using ancestral state reconstruction, it was predicted that the rate of accumulation of modern-day genes by chromids was more rapid than the rate of gene accumulation by the chromosomes. Overall, the data are consistent with a model where the primary advantage of secondary replicons is in facilitating increased rates of gene acquisition through horizontal gene transfer, consequently resulting in a replicon enriched in genes associated with adaptation to novel environments.

genomics↗

Chlamydia pan-genomic analysis reveals balance between host adaptation and selective pressure to genome reduction.

Chlamydia are ancient intracellular pathogens with reduced, though strikingly conserved genome. Despite their parasitic lifestyle and isolated intracellular environment, these bacteria managed to avoid accumulation of deleterious mutations leading to subsequent genome degradation characteristic for many parasitic bacteria.\n\nWe report pan-genomic analysis of eleven species from genus Chlamydia including identification and functional annotation of orthologous genes, and characterization of gene gains, losses, and rearrangements. We demonstrate the overall genome stability of these bacteria as indicated by a large fraction of common genes with conserved genomic locations. On the other hand, extreme evolvability is confined to several paralogous gene families such as polymorphic membrane proteins and phospholipase D and likely is caused by the pressure from the host immune system.\n\nThis combination of a large, conserved core genome and a small, evolvable periphery likely reflect the balance between the selective pressure towards genome reduction and the need to adapt to changing host environment.

genomics↗

The genome of C57BL/6J \"Eve\", the mother of the laboratory mouse genome reference strain

Isogenic laboratory mouse strains are used to enhance reproducibility as individuals within a strain are essentially genetically identical. For the most widely used isogenic strain, C57BL/6, there is also a wealth of genetic, phenotypic, and genomic data, including one of the highest quality reference genomes (GRCm38.p6). However, laboratory mouse strains are living reagents and hence genetic drift occurs and is an unavoidable source of accumulating genetic variability that can have an impact on reproducibility over time. Nearly 20 years after the first release of the mouse reference genome, individuals from the strain it represents (C57BL/6J) are at least 26 inbreeding generations removed from the individuals used to generate the mouse reference genome. Moreover, C57BL/6J is now maintained through the periodic reintroduction of mice from cryopreserved embryo stocks that are derived from a single breeder pair, aptly named C57BL/6J Adam and Eve. To more accurately represent the genome of todays C57BL/6J mice, we have generated a de novo assembly of the C57BL/6J Eve genome (B6Eve) using high coverage, long-read sequencing, optical mapping, and short-read data. Using these data, we addressed recurring variants observed in previous mouse studies. We have also identified structural variations that impact coding sequences, closed gaps in the mouse reference assembly, some of which are in genes, and we have identified previously unannotated coding sequences through long read sequencing of cDNAs. This B6Eve assembly explains discrepant observations that have been associated with GRCm38-based analyses, and has provided data towards a reference genome that is more representative of the C57BL/6J mice that are in use today.

genomics↗

The genomic sequence and comparative genomic analysis of cultivated passion fruit(Passiflora edulis L.)

Cultivated passion fruit is a fruit tree widely cultivated in southern China, but little is known about its genomics, which seriously restricts the molecular genetics research of passion fruit. In this study, we analyzed the 165.7Mb representative genome sequences. The results showed that the passion fruit genome contained a large number of simple sequence repeats (SSR). Compared to the cassava and peach genomes, the passion fruit genome has 23,053 predicted genes. These genes can be aligned to 282 plant genomes. GO annotation indicated that these genes are involved in metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, organic acids, lipids and other molecules. KEGG pathway enrichment assigned these genes into five major categories and 19 secondary functions. Cluster analysis of gene families showed that 12,767 genes could be clustered into 9,868 gene families and 291 unique gene families. On the evolutionary relationship, the passion fruit is closely related to Populus trichocarpa and Ricinus communis, but the rate of evolution is slower. In summary, this genomic analysis result is informative, and will facilitate the future studies on gene functions of passion fruit.

genomics↗