title: Genome sequencing of the high oil crop sesame provides insight into oil biosynthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sesame, Sesamum indicum L., is considered the queen of oilseeds for its high oil content and quality, and is grown widely in tropical and subtropical areas as an important source of oil and protein. However, the molecular biology of sesame is largely unexplored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we report a high-quality genome sequence of sesame assembled de novo with a contig N50 of 52.2 kb and a scaffold N50 of 2.1 Mb, containing an estimated 27,148 genes. The results reveal novel, independent whole genome duplication and the absence of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain in resistance genes. Candidate genes and oil biosynthetic pathways contributing to high oil content were discovered by comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses. These revealed the expansion of type 1 lipid transfer genes by tandem duplication, the contraction of lipid degradation genes, and the differential expression of essential genes in the triacylglycerol biosynthesis pathway, particularly in the early stage of seed development. Resequencing data in 29 sesame accessions from 12 countries suggested that the high genetic diversity of lipid-related genes might be associated with the wide variation in oil content. Additionally, the results shed light on the pivotal stage of seed development, oil accumulation and potential key genes for sesamin production, an important pharmacological constituent of sesame.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an important species from the order Lamiales and a high oil crop, the sesame genome will facilitate future research on the evolution of eudicots, as well as the study of lipid biosynthesis and potential genetic improvement of sesame.
authors.forename: Linhai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chaobo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Yingzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Donghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jingyin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xuelian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Shunmou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shuaishuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Junyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yingrui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shengyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rajeev K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiurong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018745:Genome, Plant; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012715:Sesame Oil / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D031685:Sesamum / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012715:Sesame Oil