Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USA.
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2013 Apr;24(2):278-84. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.07.005. Epub 2012 Aug 14.
Over 3000 genomes, including numerous plant genomes, are now sequenced. However, their annotation remains problematic as illustrated by the many conserved genes with no assigned function, vague annotations such as 'kinase', or even wrong ones. Around 40% of genes of unknown function that are conserved between plants and microbes are probably metabolic enzymes or transporters; finding functions for these genes is a major challenge. Comparative genomics has correctly predicted functions for many such genes by analyzing genomic context, and gene fusions, distributions and co-expression. Comparative genomics complements genetic and biochemical approaches to dissect metabolism, continues to increase in power and decrease in cost, and has a pivotal role in modeling and engineering by helping identify functions for all metabolic genes.
现在已经测序了超过 3000 个基因组，包括许多植物基因组。然而，正如许多具有未分配功能的保守基因、模糊的注释（如“激酶”）甚至错误注释所表明的那样，它们的注释仍然存在问题。在植物和微生物之间保守的、具有未知功能的基因中，大约有 40%可能是代谢酶或转运蛋白；为这些基因找到功能是一个主要挑战。通过分析基因组上下文、基因融合、分布和共表达，比较基因组学已经正确地预测了许多这样的基因的功能。比较基因组学补充了遗传和生化方法来剖析代谢，其能力不断增强，成本不断降低，并且在建模和工程中发挥着关键作用，有助于确定所有代谢基因的功能。
