Ceres and Genset complete major plant genomics milestone
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – March 6, 2000 – Ceres, Inc., a dedicated plant genomics company, and Genset, a leading human genomics company, announced today that they had completed a major gene sequencing program in Arabidopsis thaliana. The program emphasized full-length cDNA sequencing as opposed to EST or partial gene sequencing in order to capture complete information on gene sequences and the encoded proteins. Such full-length cDNA sequences have been notably absent in other high-throughput gene sequencing programs because of the technical and organizational difficulties involved.
Ceres has been feeding its full-length gene sequence information from Arabidopsis and other plant species through its integrated assembly line of functional genomics technologies, generating a deep and broad knowledge base of plant genes and their functions as well as a substantial intellectual property position. The company has filed patent applications covering several tens of thousands of full-length genes, their regulatory regions and their functions in various plant species, including important crop plants.
"Our partnership with Genset S.A., has provided us with an early entry into plant gene sequencing and enabled us to rapidly build a critical mass of plant genomics data. Using our full suite of integrated functional genomics technologies we are rapidly translating gene sequence and function information into knowledge." remarked Ceres' President and Chief Executive Officer Walter De Logi. "This knowledge can be applied to target discovery for crop protection, molecular assisted breeding, as well as the development of high-value genetically enhanced plants."
Arabidopsis thaliana is the international model for conducting functional genomics studies in plants. "Arabidopsis is the organism of choice because our integrated genomics technologies enable us to rapidly determine the function of the thousands of novel gene sequences that we have identified and use them to develop new traits in important crop plants," stated Dr. Richard Flavell, formerly the Director of the John Innes Centre, and now the Chief Scientific Officer of Ceres. He added "By using gene sequence and function information in Arabidopsis, we can rapidly capture gene sequence and function information in commercial crop species."
The Arabidopsis sequencing program, completed several months ago, was conducted in close collaboration with Genset S.A., a leading human genomics company. Genset's Chief Executive Officer Pascal Brandys commented, "The powerful combination of Genset's proprietary full-length cDNA technology and its world class capabilities in DNA sequencing and synthesis, working in concert with Ceres' bioinformatics team, have allowed Ceres to determine the sequence of several tens of thousands of full-length genes from multiple plant species. Few other genomics companies, if any, have elucidated as many full-length gene sequences. As a major shareholder of Ceres we are particularly pleased to share in this success."
Ceres is a privately held, integrated plant genomics company utilizing multiple technologies, including high-throughput DNA sequencing, mutant analysis, gene expression analysis, gene activation and gene inactivation in an industrial assembly-line fashion to rapidly discover plant genes and their functions. Ceres' objective is to become the foremost independent provider of important plant gene traits and products to the agrochemical, chemical seed, food, fiber and health care industries.
Genset S.A. is a global genomics company that integrates state-of-the-art genomic and molecular biology technologies to provide pharmaceutical companies with patented genomics information relevant for the discovery, development and marketing of novel therapeutics. Genset's objective is to enter into multiple focused strategic partnerships to assist pharmaceutical companies throughout the drug life cycle. Its commercial portfolio includes gene discovery programs in CNS disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and metabolic disorders; its pharmacogenomics programs for high-throughput target validation and drug response; and its gene libraries.
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