Ceres and Keygene Complete Plant-Gene Expression Database
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – July 13, 2000 – Ceres, Inc. and Keygene N.V. announced today the successful completion of a collaborative program to generate a comprehensive database of plant gene expression patterns. This important milestone in plant genomics was reached through a joint effort, initiated last year, in which the two companies combined their strengths in high-throughput gene sequencing, analysis of expressed gene products and bioinformatics to characterize the expression levels of most of the genes of Arabidopsis thaliana.
Keygene applied its proprietary AFLP technology to quantify gene expression levels in many distinct plant organs. The high sensitivity of AFLP enables the analysis of a large portion of all expressed genes, including rarely expressed genes that are difficult to detect using other methods. Ceres used high-throughput sequencing to characterize the large number of AFLP fragments. On the basis of these results, Ceres' and Keygene's bioinformatics teams created an expression database covering an estimated 90% of all genes expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. Both companies will apply this information in their ongoing genomics programs.
"Joining forces with Keygene, the inventors of AFLP, has allowed Ceres to further enhance its knowledge base in plant genomics," said Dr. Mark Vaeck, Chief Operating Officer of Ceres. "The AFLP data provide us with a comprehensive view of the behavior of plant genes and will accelerate our discovery of important gene functions and pathways. We are applying this knowledge to screen for novel agrochemicals, improve crops through molecular breeding, and develop high-value genetically enhanced plants."
"While the knowledge has been created for Arabidopsis thaliana, a model species, it is directly useful for understanding and predicting the role of genes in commercial crop species such as corn, wheat, soybean and canola" stated Dr. Richard Flavell, Chief Scientific Officer of Ceres. He added, "Integrating the expression data with our proprietary databases of full-length cDNA sequences and plant phenotypes helps us to quickly build a broad intellectual property position on plant genes and their functions."
Keygene, over the past several years, has developed and fine-tuned the AFLP technology as a powerful tool to analyze genome structure and gene expression in plants. Dr. Mark van Haaren, Manager Business Development of Keygene comments: "Our proprietary cDNA AFLP technology has proven its reliability in this collaborative Arabidopsis program and we are using the technology to build genome-wide transcription databases for several important crops. These expression databases provide Keygene with an excellent knowledge base for its functional genomics contract research."
Dr. Pieter Vos, Chief Scientific Officer of Keygene and co-inventor of AFLP adds: "The collaboration between Keygene and Ceres has enabled us to develop this database in a very competitive timeframe by combining genomics technologies, plant biology knowledge and bioinformatics tools from the two companies."
Keygene and Ceres also announced today that they have expanded the scope of their collaboration to include a large number of gene expression profiles from several commercially important crops. "We have been very pleased with the speed of delivery and quality of the AFLP data generated by Keygene," said Dr. Mark Vaeck, "Ceres will continue to engage in strategic alliances with leading technology companies, such as Keygene, to increase the speed and quality of data collection for its proprietary plant genomics knowledge base."
Ceres is a privately held plant genomics company, applying multiple genomics technologies in an integrated assembly line to establish broad knowledge and intellectual property with respect to plant genes and their function. Ceres uses this knowledge to create value-added products through focused development programs. The Company's technology platform includes full-length gene sequencing, microarray-based expression analysis, knock-out mutant screening, ectopic overexpression and bioinformatics. Ceres intends to be the leading independent provider of proprietary genes and traits, and related products and services, to the seed, agrochemical, chemical, food, feed, fiber and healthcare industries.
Keygene N.V. is a leading R&D company focusing on the structure and function of genetic information. Keygene has developed a strong proprietary technology platform based on AFLP, a DNA marker technology for genome analysis and genetic analysis. Based on AFLP, Keygene has developed cDNA-AFLP, a robust high-throughput transcript profiling technology. Keygene applies and exploits AFLP and other proprietary technologies and genomic databases through contract research, services and products for wide applications in the life sciences industry.
The AFLP technology and the cDNA-AFLP technology are covered by patents or patent applications owned by Keygene N.V. and AFLP is a registered trademark of Keygene N.V.
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