Driving Forward in Reverse

We describe the use of TILLING in Lotus japonicus and the development of deletion (De)-TILLING in Medicago truncatula. The evolution of RevGen UK has been driven by the development of reverse genetics technologies in these two model legumes and Brassica rapa, which functions as a translational species for brassica crops. TILLING and De-TILLING are underpinned by populations of plants mutagenized with either EMS (that causes point mutations) or fast neutrons (that cause deletions), respectively. They permit the isolation of either allelic series of mutants or knockouts. Mutation detection will be developed from a number of independent gel-based systems to be carried out on a single platform - capillary electrophoresis. We are currently TILLING in both model legumes, but these developments will be applied to all three species. The resource will develop an open source database-driven system to support laboratory information management, analysis and the cataloguing of mutants in a genome context across all the species. (author)