The Medicago Genome Initiative: a model legume database

The Medicago Genome Initiative (MGI) is a database of EST sequences of the model legume Medicago truncatula. The database is available to the public a nd has resulted from a collaborative research effort between the Samuel Rob erts Noble Foundation and the National Center for Genome Resources to inves tigate the genome of M.truncatula. MGI is part of the greater integrated Me dicago functional genomics program at the Noble Foundation (http://www.nobl e.org), which is taking a global approach in studying the genetic and bioch emical events associated with the growth, development and environmental int eractions of this model legume. Our approach will include: large-scale EST sequencing, gene expression profiling, the generation of M.truncatula activ ation-tagged and promoter trap insertion mutants, high-throughput metabolic profiling, and proteome studies. These multidisciplinary information pools will be interfaced with one another to provide scientists with an integrat ed, holistic set of tools to address fundamental questions pertaining to le gume biology. The public interface to the MGI database can be accessed at h ttp://www.ncgr.org/research/mgi.