The National Southern Research Center for Human Genome, which is well-known at home and abroad, has become one of the main bases for genomics research and application development in China and one of the most influential genome research centers in the world, and recently celebrated its fifth birthday.
The National Southern Research Center of Human Genome was established in 1998, with Academician Zhu Chen, Vice President of China Academy of Sciences as its director. It is a new scientific research institution initiated by scientific research units in related fields in Shanghai to carry out human genome research and application development in order to realize the national scientific research plan. Southern Research Center is jointly established by China Bioengineering Development Center of Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai New Drug R&D Center, Pudong Science and Technology Venture Capital Company, Shanghai Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Second Military Medical University, Fudan University (including former Shanghai Medical University), Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai Cancer Institute and Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park Development Company. The Center now has seven departments: Genome Sequencing Department, Bioinformatics Department, Genetics Department, Functional Genomics Department I and II, Comparative Genome Research Department and Ethics, Law and Social Issues Research Department.
Five great achievements
In a short period of five years, the center has achieved fruitful results, including five international leading research results.
Genome sequencing and functional research of three kinds of microorganisms, such as leptospira, the center has completed the genome sequencing of three important human and plant pathogenic microorganisms, namely leptospira (4.85Mb), Staphylococcus epidermidis (2.6Mb) and Xanthomonas (5.2Mb). Among them, leptospira is the first important microorganism in the world to complete genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. In this study, more than 4700 genes that maintain the life activities of leptospira were identified for the first time, and at the same time, more than 30 pathogenic genes and 10 potential new targets for vaccine development were identified. The research results were published in the journal Nature in April 2003, and three gene patents were applied.
Cloning of Pathogenic Genes of Atrial Fibrillation The Department of Genetics of our Center cooperated with Tongji Medical University. Through the genetic linkage analysis of a family with atrial fibrillation, the pathogenic gene of this disease-myocardial potassium channel protein KCNQ 1 was located and cloned, and the mutation site of this gene was determined. This is the first pathogenic gene that causes familial atrial fibrillation so far, and this discovery will help to develop new drugs to treat atrial fibrillation. The research results were published in the journal Science in June 5438+ 10, 2003, and two patents were applied.
Localization of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Susceptibility Gene The Department of Genetics of our center cooperated with the Cancer Prevention Center affiliated to Guangzhou Sun Yat-sen Medical University, and successfully located the nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility gene locus (4p15.1-4p12 region) through the genetic research of more than 0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma families in Guangdong, which is an important progress in the genetic susceptibility research of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Related research results were published in the journal Nature Network in August 2002.
Research on genes related to liver cancer: The center conducted the large-scale est sequencing of liver cancer for the first time in the world (EST: ex-pressedSeq uenceTage, which is an expression part of the genome and carries some fragments of complete genes-editor's note), and obtained 40,000 ESTs of liver cancer and adjacent tissues, thus constructing the largest EST database of liver cancer in the world; At the level of transcriptome, the occurrence and development of liver cancer were initially revealed, and a number of new genes related to liver cancer were cloned, and a number of gene patents were applied.
Research on the Functional Genome of Schistosoma japonicum The Center cooperates with the Institute of Parasitic Diseases Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and takes Schistosoma japonicum as the research object. For the first time in the world, large-scale gene fragments of Schistosoma japonicum in different development stages and forms (including female worms, male worms and eggs) were detected, and comprehensive analysis and verification were carried out, and 43,707 gene fragments were obtained, and the world's largest database of expression sequence tags of Brachionus brachialis (protozoa) was built. Cloning 6 1 1 full-length gene to lay a foundation for understanding the genome structure of Schistosoma japonicum; The detection of gene function shows that there are many genes involved in schistosomiasis metabolism. A number of genes related to metabolism, development and sex were discovered and identified, which laid an important foundation for the diagnosis and vaccine development of schistosomiasis. The research results were published in the journal Nature Genetics in June 2003.
In addition, taking advantage of the technology platform, the Center actively cooperated with the National Gene Research Center of China Academy of Sciences to participate in the accurate sequencing of rice (japonica rice) chromosome 4, which was published in the journal Nature in June 2002. Actively participated in international cooperative research, participated in the international chimpanzee genome project in 200 1 year, and completed the accurate sequencing of chimpanzee chromosome 22, which will be published in the recent journal nature.
Four kinds of experiences
Academician Zhu Chen said in an interview that the National Southern Research Center for Human Genome, as a scientific research institution, may only have a short history of five years, but it has achieved initial results. He feels that there are four experiences and understandings that can be summarized: First, combine the international scientific frontier with national goals. Specifically, the combination of the scientific community and the decision-making level ensures the integration of scientific goals and major national needs. This decision is not only made by the central government, but also by local leaders. The second is to break departmental boundaries, realize major alliances, and build a national major science and technology platform that is truly oriented to the whole country and the world. Third, in order to make a unique contribution to scientific research, we must base ourselves on the national conditions, make decisions realistically, and choose major strategic goals with foresight. Fourth, scientific research should be people-oriented. To do first-class work on the land of China, we should not only attract overseas talents to come back and give full play to their advantages, but also remember that it is now possible for China to cultivate localized first-class talents through large-scale project research and strategic traction.