The CPGN: A brief history and deep appreciation
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Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 12 (2) 1994 pages $2-$3 CPGN Supplement The Nomenclature and the Commission The CPGN: A Brief History and Deep Appreciation The Commission on Plant Gene Nomenclature was established in 1991 by the International Society of Plant Molecular Biology with the objective of developing a common nomenclature for sequenced plant genes. This publication provides clear evidence that the Commission's objective is eminently achievable: groups of scientists around the world have identified classes of genes that span the plant kingdom--and what is equally encouraging--have merged personal preferences to agree on uniform sets of designations for these genes. The idea of a common nomenclature for plant genes precedes the establishment of the CPGN by almost 10 years: Hallick and Bottomley's (1983) proposal for a common nomenclature for chloroplast genes has greatly simplified communication among scientists concerned with plas- rids and photosynthesis. (Hallick updated the list in 1989, and with Bairoch has contributed further recommendations in this Supplement.) Later, Lonsdale and Leaver (1988) offered a similar proposal for mito- chondrial genes. In 1992 Jansson et al. proposed a common set of designations for genes encoding proteins of the light-harvesting com- plex; Jansson et al. offered logical simplicity in place of rampant anarchy, and their system is now being followed by most authors in the field. Similarly Hans Kende organized common designations for genes encod- ing enzymes of ethylene biosynthesis, and Peter Quail corralled 90 percent of the people in phytochrome to agree on designations for phytochrome genes. All of these were independent of the CPGN, but grew out of the perceived necessity to construct a common language; the CPGN has enthusiastically adopted all of these systems and will wel- come independent enterprises in the future. The CPGN was launched with a start-up grant from the National Science Foundation (USA). In 1993 the Rockefeller Foundation was host to the CPGN's first international meeting, held at the Foundation's Study and Conference Center in Bellagio. That meeting was generously sup- $2
Transcript of The CPGN: A brief history and deep appreciation
Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 12 (2) 1994 pages $2-$3 CPGN Supplement
The Nomenclature and the Commission
The CPGN: A Brief History and Deep Appreciation
The Commission on Plant Gene Nomenclature was established in 1991 by the International Society of Plant Molecular Biology with the objective of developing a common nomenclature for sequenced plant genes. This publication provides clear evidence that the Commission's objective is eminently achievable: groups of scientists around the world have identified classes of genes that span the plant kingdom--and what is equally encouraging--have merged personal preferences to agree on uniform sets of designations for these genes.
The idea of a common nomenclature for plant genes precedes the establishment of the CPGN by almost 10 years: Hallick and Bottomley's (1983) proposal for a common nomenclature for chloroplast genes has greatly simplified communication among scientists concerned with plas- rids and photosynthesis. (Hallick updated the list in 1989, and with Bairoch has contributed further recommendations in this Supplement.) Later, Lonsdale and Leaver (1988) offered a similar proposal for mito- chondrial genes. In 1992 Jansson et al. proposed a common set of designations for genes encoding proteins of the light-harvesting com- plex; Jansson et al. offered logical simplicity in place of rampant anarchy, and their system is now being followed by most authors in the field. Similarly Hans Kende organized common designations for genes encod- ing enzymes of ethylene biosynthesis, and Peter Quail corralled 90 percent of the people in phytochrome to agree on designations for phytochrome genes. All of these were independent of the CPGN, but grew out of the perceived necessity to construct a common language; the CPGN has enthusiastically adopted all of these systems and will wel- come independent enterprises in the future.
The CPGN was launched with a start-up grant from the National Science Foundation (USA). In 1993 the Rockefeller Foundation was host to the CPGN's first international meeting, held at the Foundation's Study and Conference Center in Bellagio. That meeting was generously sup-
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CPGN: History and Appreciation $3
p o r t e d by the N a t i o n a l Science F o u n d a t i o n (USA), the Un i t ed S ta tes D e p a r t m e n t of Agr i cu l tu re, and the Rockefe l le r F o u n d a t i o n . Th is Su p p l e - m e n t is one of the f rui ts of that m e e t i n g , a n d w e w a n t to e x p r e s s o u r p r o f o u n d g r a t i t u d e to these agenc ies , to the ISPMB, a n d to the W a k s m a n
Ins t i tu te , Ru tge r s Un ive r s i t y , for thei r s u p p o r t . W e also w a n t to t h a n k the scores of sc ien t i s t s w h o h a v e g iven so g e n e r o u s l y of thei r t ime to bu i ld a c o m m o n s y s t e m of c o m m u n i c a t i o n for p l a n t m o l e c u l a r biolog3,.
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References
l-lallick, R. B. 1989. Proposals for the naming of chloroplast genes. II. Update to the nomenclature of genes for thylakoid membrane polypeptides. Plant Mol. Biol. Reptr. 7:266-275.
Hattick, R. B. and W. Bottomley. 1983. Proposals for the namingof chloroplast genes. Plant Mol. Biol. Reptr. 1:38-43.
Jansson, S., E. Pichersky, R. Bassi, B.R. Green, M. Ikeuehi, A. Melis, D.J. Simpson, M. Spangfort, L.A. Staehelin, J.P. Thornber. 1992. A nomenclature for the genes encoding the chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins of higher plants. Plan t Mol. Biol. Reptr. 10:242-253.
Lonsdale, D. M. and C. J. Leaver. 1988. Mitochondrial gene nomenclature. Plant Mol. Biol. Reptr. 6(2):14-21.
