title: Draft genome sequence of the oilseed species Ricinus communis.
abstract: Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is an oilseed crop that belongs to the spurge (Euphorbiaceae) family, which comprises approximately 6,300 species that include cassava (Manihot esculenta), rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and physic nut (Jatropha curcas). It is primarily of economic interest as a source of castor oil, used for the production of high-quality lubricants because of its high proportion of the unusual fatty acid ricinoleic acid. However, castor bean genomics is also relevant to biosecurity as the seeds contain high levels of ricin, a highly toxic, ribosome-inactivating protein. Here we report the draft genome sequence of castor bean (4.6-fold coverage), the first for a member of the Euphorbiaceae. Whereas most of the key genes involved in oil synthesis and turnover are single copy, the number of members of the ricin gene family is larger than previously thought. Comparative genomics analysis suggests the presence of an ancient hexaploidization event that is conserved across the dicotyledonous lineage.
authors: J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
authors: Agnes P
authors: AP
authors: Chan
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Crabtree
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Zhao
authors: Hernan
authors: H
authors: Lorenzi
authors: Joshua
authors: J
authors: Orvis
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Puiu
authors: Admasu
authors: A
authors: Melake-Berhan
authors: Kristine M
authors: KM
authors: Jones
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Redman
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Chen
authors: Edgar B
authors: EB
authors: Cahoon
authors: Melaku
authors: M
authors: Gedil
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Stanke
authors: Brian J
authors: BJ
authors: Haas
authors: Jennifer R
authors: JR
authors: Wortman
authors: Claire M
authors: CM
authors: Fraser-Liggett
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Ravel
authors: Pablo D
authors: PD
authors: Rabinowicz
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000235:genetics*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D011123:Polyploidy; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D012276:Ricin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D012276:Ricin