Wageningen, The
Netherlands
11 October 2000
Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences (WCFS) and
Greenomics (Plant Research
International B.V.) announced today the finishing of the whole-genome
sequencing of Lactobacillus plantarum. This important milestone in microbial
genomic sequencing was reached through a joint effort, initiated last year,
in which the two organisations combined their strengths in the knowledge of
microbial genetics and industrial fermentations with that of whole-genome
sequencing and bioinformatics.
Greenomics conducted within one year the shotgun cloning and high quality
sequencing of Lactobacillus plantarum. Also a first automated annotation of
the genome was provided using sophisticated bioinformatics tools. Besides
that, Greenomics provides WCFS with a primary functional classification of
all genes. This is the largest project WCFS has outsourced since its foundation in 1997
in the Wageningen Food Valley. Prof. Dr. Willem M. de Vos, WCFS Scientific
Director Processing and Functionality comments: 'Lactobacillus plantarum has
a variety of applications as a cell factory for the food industry and its
genome sequence will be instrumental in analyzing and improving its activity
in the bioreactor, fermented foods, and the gastro-intestinal tract. It has
a wide metabolic potential as is illustrated by its large genome (3.3
million base pairs and several plasmids) that now can be fully exploited in
both academic and applied studies.''
Dr. Michiel Kleerebezem, WCFS project leader, adds: ''The complete genome
of Lactobacilllus plantarum allows WCFS to rapidly study its gene expression
under different environmental conditions, to design more efficient metabolic
engineering strategies, and to understand this and other lactic acid
bacteria at the molecular level''.
Greenomics started to offer its high throughput DNA analysis services to
customers in early 1999. Dr. Gionata Leone, Manager Business Development of
Greenomics comments: "This is the first microbial, whole-genome sequencing
project executed in The Netherlands. Greenomics proved to be able to manage
successfully a large-scale, whole-genome-sequencing project such as this for
WCFS. We are ready to support customers with our knowledge and cost-effective services all over the world".
Prof. Dr. Willem Stiekema, Manager of the Business Unit Genomics of Plant
Research International B.V., adds: "This project demonstrates the value of
Wageningen UR for the agro-food industry. The genomics facilities of Plant
Research International B.V. are the most advanced of The Netherlands. Next
to whole genome sequencing we offer DNA microarrays and proteomics
facilities to further study obtained genome information. Combination of
these facilities with the academic and applied expertise available within
university and research institutes is added value for our customers".
WCFS, a research alliance of government, food industry and research
organisations, performs long-term strategic and fundamental research in the
area of food sciences. The partners include the Netherlands Dairy Industry
Association, DSM, Unilever NV, Avebe BA, Cosun, and the Cebeco group while
the research organizations include Wageningen University and Research
Centre, TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, and NIZO food research.
Since 1997 WCFS has established a strong food science infrastructure, giving
the Dutch food industry the innovative capacity to meet the challenges of
the 21st century. Three major research programmes have been selected that
are linked to food functionality: 'Nutrition and Health'; 'Structure and
Functionality' and 'Processing and Functionality'.
Greenomics(tm) is the high throughput DNA analysis service provider of Plant
Research International B.V., set up to address large-scale genome analysis
projects mainly in the agro, food, industrial and veterinary biotechnology
sectors. Greenomics is highly robotised and has an output of more than 1.6
million nucleotides per day of rough data. It can offer one of the largest
available sequencing capacities of Europe coupled to a complete portfolio of
up-to-date bioinformatics and other genomics services.
Contacts:
WCFS: Edith van Bodegraven, PR and Communication.
Tel. +31 317 48 53 83, e-mail: wcfs@foodsciences.nl
Website: www.wcfs.nl
Plant Research International / Greenomics: Erik Toussaint, Manager External
Communication. Tel. +31 317 47 70 17, e-mail: info@plant.wag-ur.nl,
Website: www.greenomics.com
Company news release
N3048 |
