The MetaCyc Database

MetaCyc is a metabolic-pathway database that describes 445 pathways and 1115 enzymes occurring in 158 organisms. MetaCyc is a review-level database in that a given entry in MetaCyc often integrates information from multiple literature sources. The pathways in MetaCyc were determined experimentally, and are labeled with the species in which they are known to occur based on literature references examined to date. MetaCyc contains extensive commentary and literature citations. Applications of MetaCyc include pathway analysis of genomes, metabolic engineering and biochemistry education. MetaCyc is queried using the Pathway Tools graphical user interface, which provides a wide variety of query operations and visualization tools. MetaCyc is available via the World Wide Web at http://ecocyc.org/ecocyc/metacyc.html, and is available for local installation as a binary program for the PC and the Sun workstation, and as a set of flatfiles. Contact metacyc-info@ai.sri.com for information on obtaining a local copy of MetaCyc.     

The translational signal database, TransTerm, is now a relational database.

TransTerm-97 contains more than 97 500 non-redundant coding-sequence initiation and termination contexts compiled from GenBank, release 101 (15-June-1997). In addition, several coding sequence parameters are available: coding sequence length, Nc, GC3, and, when it is computable, codon adaptation index (CAI). Codon usage tables and summaries of start and stop codon contexts are also included. The information covers more than 325 species and organelles, including seven complete bacterial genomes and one complete eukaryotic genome. To promote research in translational control of protein synthesis, TransTerm has been converted into a relational database to ease the process of making queries. The relational database manager, Postgresql, gives access to the database using SQL (Structured Query Language). A World Wide Web interface using forms is being completed to allow the casual user access to the database. Extensions are planned to include the full 5'-UTR, full coding sequence and 3'-UTR. TransTerm-97 is available on the World Wide Web at:http://biochem. otago.ac.nz:800/Transterm/homepage.html     

The Human PAX6 Mutation Database.

The Human PAX6 Mutation Database contains details of 94 mutations of the PAX6 gene. A Microsoft Access program is used by the Curator to store, update and search the database entries. Mutations can be entered directly by the Curator, or imported from submissions made via the World Wide Web. The PAX6 Mutation Database web page at URL http://www.hgu.mrc.ac.uk/Softdata/PAX6/ provides information about PAX6, as well as a fill-in form through which new mutations can be submitted to the Curator. A search facility allows remote users to query the database. A plain text format file of the data can be downloaded via the World Wide Web. The Curation program contains prior knowledge of the genetic code and of the PAX6 gene including cDNA sequence, location of intron/exon boundaries, and protein domains, so that the minimum of information need be provided by the submitter or Curator.     

The guide RNA database (3.0).

The RNA editing process within the mitochondria of kinetoplastid organisms is controlled by small, trans -acting RNA molecules referred to as guide RNAs. The guide RNA database is a compilation of published guide RNA sequences, currently containing 254 entries from 11 different organisms. Additional information includes RNA secondary and tertiary structure models, information on the gene localisation, literature citations and other relevant facts. The database can be accessed through the World Wide Web (WWW) at http://www.biochem.mpg.de/ goeringe/     

Marfan Database (third edition): new mutations and new routines for the software.

The Marfan database is a software that contains routines for the analysis of mutations identified in the FBN1 gene that encodes fibrillin-1. Mutations in this gene are associated not only with Marfan syndrome but also with a spectrum of overlapping disorders. The third version of the Marfan database contains 137 entries. The software has been modified to accommodate four new routines and is now accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.umd.necker.fr     

The EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database.

The EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database is a comprehensive database of DNA and RNA sequences directly submitted from researchers and genome sequencing groups and collected from the scientific literature and patent applications. In collaboration with DDBJ and GenBank the database is produced, maintained and distributed at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) and constitutes Europe's primary nucleotide sequence resource. Database releases are produced quarterly and are distributed on CD-ROM. EBI's network services allow access to the most up-to-date data collection via Internet and World Wide Web interface, providing database searching and sequence similarity facilities plus access to a large number of additional databases.     

HOMSTRAD: a database of protein structure alignments for homologous families.

We describe a database of protein structure alignments for homologous families. The database HOMSTRAD presently contains 130 protein families and 590 aligned structures, which have been selected on the basis of quality of the X-ray analysis and accuracy of the structure. For each family, the database provides a structure-based alignment derived using COMPARER and annotated with JOY in a special format that represents the local structural environment of each amino acid residue. HOMSTRAD also provides a set of superposed atomic coordinates obtained using MNYFIT, which can be viewed with a graphical user interface or used for comparative modeling studies. The database is freely available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-cryst.bioc.cam. ac.uk/-homstrad/, with search facilities and links to other databases.     

Database on the structure of small ribosomal subunit RNA.

The Antwerp database on small ribosomal subunit RNA now offers more than 6000 nucleotide sequences (August 1996). All these sequences are stored in the form of an alignment based on the adopted secondary structure model, which is corroborated by the observation of compensating substitutions in the alignment. Besides the primary and secondary structure information, literature references, accession numbers and detailed taxonomic information are also compiled. For ease of use, the complete database is made available to the scientific community via World Wide Web at URL http://rrna.uia.ac.be/ssu/ .     

The guide RNA database.

Guide RNAs (gRNAs) are small, metabolically stable RNA molecules which perform a pivotal, template-like function during the RNA editing process in kinetoplastid protozoa. The gRNA database currently contains 250 guide RNA sequences as well as secondary and tertiary structure models and other relevant information. The database is made available as a hypertext document accessible via the World Wide Web (WWW) at the URL: http://www.biochem.mpg.de/ goeringe/     

The EMBL nucleotide sequence database.

The EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl. html ) constitutes Europe's primary nucleotide sequence resource. DNA and RNA sequences are directly submitted from researchers and genome sequencing groups and collected from the scientific literature and patent applications (Fig. 1). In collaboration with DDBJ and GenBank the database is produced, maintained and distributed at the European Bioinformatics Institute. Database releases are produced quarterly and are distributed on CD-ROM. EBI's network services allow access to the most up-to-date data collection via Internet and World Wide Web interface, providing database searching and sequence similarity facilities plus access to a large number of additional databases.     

Database on the structure of small ribosomal subunit RNA.

The Antwerp database on small ribosomal subunit RNA offers over 4300 nucleotide sequences (August 1995). All these sequences are stored in the form of an alignment based on the adopted secondary structure model, which in turn is corroborated by the observation of compensating substitutions in the alignment. Besides the primary and secondary structure information, literature references, accession numbers and detailed taxonomic information are also compiled. The complete database is made available to the scientific community through anonymous ftp and World Wide Web(WWW).     

REBASE--restriction enzymes and methylases.

REBASE is a comprehensive database of information about restriction enzymes and their associated methylases, including their recognition and cleavage sites and their commercial availability. Information from REBASE is available via monthly electronic mailings as well as via WAIS, anonymous ftp and through the World Wide Web (http://www.neb.com/rebase). Specialized files are available that can be used directly by many software packages.     

PROMISE: a database of information on prosthetic centres and metal ions in protein active sites.

The PROMISE (Prosthetic centres andmetalions in protein activesites) database aims to gather together comprehensive sequence, structural, functional and bibliographic information on proteins which possess prosthetic centres, with an emphasis on active site structure and function. The database is available on the World Wide Web at http://bioinf.leeds.ac.uk/promise/     

REBASE-restriction enzymes and methylases.

REBASE is a comprehensive database of information about restriction enzymes and their associated methylases, including their recognition and cleavage sites and their commercial availability. Information from REBASE is available via monthly electronic mailings as well as via anonymous ftp, WAIS/gopher and through the World Wide Web (http://www.neb.com/rebase ). Specialized files are available that can be used directly by many software packages.     

The Homeodomain Resource: sequences, structures, DNA binding sites and genomic information

The Homeodomain Resource is an annotated collection of non-redundant protein sequences, three-dimensional structures and genomic information for the homeodomain protein family. Release 3.0 contains 795 full-length homeodomain-containing sequences, 32 experimentally-derived structures and 143 homeo-box loci implicated in human genetic disorders. Entries are fully hyperlinked to facilitate easy retrieval of the original records from source databases. A simple search engine with a graphical user interface is provided to query the component databases and assemble customized data sets. A new feature for this release is the addition of DNA recognition sites for all human homeodomain proteins described in the literature. The Homeodomain Resource is freely available through the World Wide Web at http://genome.nhgri.nih.gov/homeodomain.     

SubtiList: the reference database for the Bacillus subtilis genome

SubtiList is the reference database dedicated to the genome of Bacillus subtilis 168, the paradigm of Gram-positive endospore-forming bacteria. Developed in the framework of the B.subtilis genome project, SubtiList provides a curated dataset of DNA and protein sequences, combined with the relevant annotations and functional assignments. Information about gene functions and products is continuously updated by linking relevant bibliographic references. Recently, sequence corrections arising from both systematic verifications and submissions by individual scientists were included in the reference genome sequence. SubtiList is based on a generic relational data schema and a World Wide Web interface developed for the handling of bacterial genomes, called GenoList. The World Wide Web interface was designed to allow users to easily browse through genome data and retrieve information according to common biological queries. SubtiList also provides more elaborate tools, such as pattern searching, which are tightly connected to the overall browsing system. SubtiList is accessible at http://genolist.pasteur.fr/SubtiList/. Similar bacterial databases are accessible at http://genolist.pasteur.fr/.     

SMS: sequence, motif and structure--a database on the structural rigidity of peptide fragments in non-redundant proteins

Structure prediction methods aim to identify the relationship between the amino acid sequence of an unknown protein and information comprised in databases of known protein structures. Towards this end, we created a database by combining the amino acid sequences and the corresponding three-dimensional atomic coordinates for all the 25% non-redundant protein chains available in the Protein Data Bank. It contains information about the peptide fragments that are 5 to 10 residues long. In addition, options are provided for the users to visualize the individual motifs and the superposed fragments in the client machine. Further, useful functionalities areprovided to look for similar sequence motifs in all the sequence databases like PDB, 90% non-redundant protein chains, Genome database, PIR and Swiss-Prot. The database is being updated at regular intervals and the same can be accessed over the World Wide Web interface at the following URL: http://pranag.physics.iisc.ernet.in/sms/.     

Databases and software for the analysis of mutations in the human p53 gene, the human hprt gene and both the lacI and lacZ gene in transgenic rodents.

We have created databases and software applications for the analysis of DNA mutations at the humanp53gene, the humanhprtgene and both the rodent transgeniclacIandlacZlocus. The databases themselves are stand-alone dBASE files and the software for analysis of the databases runs on IBM-compatible computers. Each database has a separate software analysis program. The software created for these databases permit the filtering, ordering, report generation and display of information in the database. In addition, a significant number of routines have been developed for the analysis of single base substitutions. One method of obtaining the databases and software is via the World Wide Web (WWW). Open the following home page with a Web Browser: http://sunsite.unc.edu/dnam/mainpage.ht ml . Alternatively, the databases and programs are available via public FTP from: anonymous@sunsite.unc.edu . There is no password required to enter the system. The databases and software are found beneath the subdirectory: pub/academic/biology/dna-mutations. Two other programs are available at the site-a program for comparison of mutational spectra and a program for entry of mutational data into a relational database.     

The Organelle Genome Database Project (GOBASE).

The taxonomically broad organelle genome database (GOBASE) organizes and integrates diverse data related to organelles (mitochondria and chloroplasts). The current version of GOBASE focuses on the mitochondrial subset of data and contains molecular sequences, RNA secondary structures and genetic maps, as well as taxonomic information for all eukaryotic species represented. The database has been designed so that complex biological queries, especially ones posed in a comparative genomics context, are supported. GOBASE has been implemented as a relational database with a web-based user interface (http://megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/gobase/gobas e.html ). Custom software tools have been written in house to assist in the population of the database, data validation, nomenclature standardization and front-end design. The database is fully operational and publicly accessible via the World Wide Web, allowing interactive browsing, sophisticated searching and easy downloading of data.     

Yeast Protein database (YPD): a database for the complete proteome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Yeast Protein Database (YPD) is a database for the proteins of the budding yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae. YPD is the first annotated database for the complete proteome of any organism. Now that the complete genome sequence of yeast is available, YPD contains entries for each of the characterized proteins and for each of the uncharacterized proteins predicted from the sequence. Contained in YPD are the calculated properties of each protein such as molecular weight and isoelectric point, experimentally determined properties such as subcellular localization and post-translational modifications, and extensive annotations from the yeast literature. YPD contains 25 000 lines of textual annotation that describe the known functions, mutant phenotypes, interactions, and other properties for the approximately 6000 proteins in the yeast proteome. The information in YPD is updated daily, and it is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.proteome.com/YPDhome.html .