Rapid genetic mapping of ESTs using SNP pyrosequencing and indel analysis

W describe an effective systematic approach to genetic mapping of cDNA clones, including those obtained from EST sequencing. The EST of interest is first partially sequenced from the 3'-end. PCR primers which bracket the 3'-UTR segment of the cDNA are designed. The corresponding gene segment is amplified from the parents of the mapping population, using primers equipped with 3'- and 5'-extensions to facilitate direct sequencing of PCR products. Comparison of the sequences obtained from the mapping parents frequently reveals single nucleotide polymorphisms or insertion / deletion polymorphisms, which can then be genotyped in a mapping population. The genotyping of SNPs is performed by pyrosequencing, a sequencing-by-synthesis method that has been used successfully in SNP diagnostics. SNP analysis of up to 96 samples, a number required to produce meaningful genetic segregation data, can be rapidly accomplished in parallel. The parental genotype of three loci, stearoyl-ACP desaturase, nucleoside-diphosphate kinase and sucrose synthetase-1 were determined by conventional sequencing, and the polymorphism so identified were scored by the pyrosequencing of 94 individuals of a maize recombinant-inbred population. These loci were successfully placed onto chromosomes 3, 7 and 9 respectively. This method is generally applicable to most plant species, which show sufficient sequence diversity in the 3'-UTR region of genes.