RevGenUK, TILLING in Models and Crops

RevGenUK is an integrated informatics and resources platform for reverse genetics based at The John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. We have been running a TILLING service for the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula and the oilseed Brassica rapa (var. R-o-18) for almost six years. To date we have TILLed approximately 350 genes for more than 50 labs across 12 countries and have confirmed nearly 4000 mutations. We currently TILL by capillary sequencing, using CEL1 to identify and cleave mismatches in fragments amplified using fluorescent primers; we are now developing TILLING by exome capture with our collaborators in TGAC (The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich, UK). Our aim is to re-sequence 1000 of our Brassica rapa TILLING lines so that we can offer an “off-the-shelf” mutation-finding service. Recently we acquired a Brassica napus population in the variety ‘Cabriolet’ and, to complete our Brassica collection, colleagues at JIC are in the process of developing Brassica oleracea TILLING which should be ready by late 2014. In addition we are currently offering conventional TILLING in tetraploid wheat (var. Kronos) until TGAC has completed the wheat exome capture project and the data is ready for release. We have recently added diploid oat (Avena strigosa) to our portfolio and – for the specialists - TILLING in Capsella rubella (a relative of Shepherd’s Purse and Arabidopsis) and in the “insurance crop”, grass pea (Lathyrus sativus). We also continue to offer our established TILLING service in the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula.