** The title, authors, and abstract for this completion report are provided below.  For a copy of the completion report, please contact the author at liweim@msu.edu or via telephone at 517-353-9837. Questions? Contact the GLFC via e-mail or via telephone at 734-662-3209 **

Using sea lamprey genome information to identify new research priorities and control strategies

Weiming Li¹, Yuwen Chung-Davidson¹, C Titus Brown², Scot Libants¹, Steven Chang¹, Erin J. Walaszczyk¹, Kaben Nanlohy¹, and Christopher Welcher³

1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 488244

2Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

3Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

March 2013

Abstract

The goal of this project is to develop a better understanding for the genetic code of sea lamprey in the context of the code to other animals as well as to identify potential opportunities to develop novel control strategies based on this understanding. This project was undertaken to take advantage of the Lamprey Genome Sequencing projected awarded to Washington University by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NIGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) The project focused on developing an open access database useful for the sea lamprey research community and on examining gene expression patterns relevant to development of potential control strategies. All three objectives were accomplished. With support to this project, we coordinated the sea lamprey genome annotation, the results of which provided new insight into vertebrate evolution (see Nature Genetics, 45: 415–421). Using the sea lamprey genome assembly information and the multiple information generated from this project, we have characterized genes related to pheromone synthesis (see Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, 109(28): 11419-11424), examined chemoreceptor genes that are relevant to detection of pheromones (see BMC Evolutionary Biology, 9:180-193), showed gene expression changes in response to pheromone stimulation (BMC Neuroscinece, 14: 11), and demonstrated genomic bases for thermogenic fat in sea lamprey (Journal of Experimental Biology, in press). In addition, numerous manuscripts, either in review or in revision, describe genes or gene families related to detoxification, chemoreception and metamorphosis. A few otential strategies for future development or further examination have emerged from this research.