Gymnosperm Genomics
The "Gymnosperm Genomics Project" explores the evolutionary origins of seeds using the most basal lineages of the ancient group of non-flowering plants known as gymnosperms. To do this, we are generating expressed sequence tags from cycads, gingko, and gnetum. Searching through these gymnosperm gene sequences we have found genes with similarity to genes known in angiosperms known to be involved with seed development. We are mining these genes using with phylogenomic tools we have developed, including Vicogenta and OrthologID. We hope to identify the ancestral molecular mechanisms that may have been "recruited" for the origin of these complex structures.
     Sequence annotations, peptide predictions, protein domain architectures will be available through a feature in ViCoGenTA which is currently under development (stay tuned....)

Download Link to ESTS submitted to GenBank download

Clustered EST sequence can be downloaded here.

Cycad Medicinal Genomics
Another question we are addressing with cycads is of critical human medicinal value. The neurotoxic compound BMAA produced by cycads is believed to over-stimulate the glutamate receptor in human neurons causing a condition known as "Parkinson-Dementia Complex". By understanding the role of BMAA in cycads and its relationship to endogenous plant glutamate receptors, which are thought to act in the light perception pathway, we may gain insight into glutamate receptor function or dysfunction in both plants and humans.

Support for the NYPGC

The New York Plant Genomics Consortium is made possible by the generosity of the Altria Group, Inc., The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The Eppley Foundation for Research, Inc., The Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Inc., The Ambrose Monell Foundation, The Wallace Genetic Foundation, Inc., and NSF Grant #DBI-0421604.



Site Maintained by Eric Brenner (eb50@nyu.edu)