LARGE-SCALE ANALYSIS OF EXPRESSED GENES FROM THE LEAF OF OILSEED RAPE(BRASSICA-NAPUS L.)

While the number of leaf-specific expressed genes is estimated to be a pproximately 6,000, an overview of gene diversity and expression patte rns in the leaf of oilseed rape (Brassicca napus L.) has not yet been reported. In an effort to understand gene expression patterns and to i dentify new genes, we generated 754 expressed sequence lags (ESTs) fro m the leaf of B. napus. By comparing them to public databases, we show ed that 204 of the ESTs (27.1%) have sequence homology to known genes, with 52 of them (6.9%) matching to genes not previously studied in B. napus. The most abundant transcripts were found to be involved in pho tosynthesis and energy metabolism When compared with maize leaf ESTs a nd rice leaf ESTs, the pattern of gene expression was different depend ing on the developmental stages of the leaf.