Automated interpretation of metabolic capacity from genome and metagenome sequences

The KEGG pathway maps are widely used as a reference data set for inferring high-level functions of the organism or the ecosystem from its genome or metagenome sequence data. The KEGG modules, which are tighter functional units often corresponding to subpathways in the KEGG pathway maps, are designed for better automation of genome interpretation. Each KEGG module is represented by a simple Boolean expression of KEGG Orthology (KO) identifiers (K numbers), enabling automatic evaluation of the completeness of genes in the genome. Here we focus on metabolic functions and introduce reaction modules for improving annotation and signature modules for inferring metabolic capacity. We also describe how genome annotation is performed in KEGG using the manually created KO database and the computationally generated SSDB database. The resulting KEGG GENES database with KO (K number) annotation is a reference sequence database to be compared for automated annotation and interpretation of newly determined genomes.     

The integrated web service and genome database for agricultural plants with biotechnology information

The National Agricultural Biotechnology Information Center (NABIC) constructed an agricultural biology-based infrastructure and developed a Web based relational database for agricultural plants with biotechnology information. The NABIC has concentrated on functional genomics of major agricultural plants, building an integrated biotechnology database for agro-biotech information that focuses on genomics of major agricultural resources. This genome database provides annotated genome information from 1,039,823 records mapped to rice, Arabidopsis, and Chinese cabbage.     

Arabidopsis genome analysis as exemplified by analysis of chromosome 4

During the last decade the small cruciferous plant Arabidopsis thaliana has become a model organism for flowering plants. Sequencing and analysis of the Arabidopsis genome is nearing completion. Beside an overview on methods and strategies for Arabidopsis genome analysis, a summary of the results from the first analysis is presented.This includes an overview on chromosomal organisation and topological features as well as a first comparison with other genomes.     

JaponicusDB: rapid deployment of a model organism database for an emerging model species

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus has recently emerged as a powerful system for studying the evolution of essential cellular processes, drawing on similarities as well as key differences between S. japonicus and the related, well-established model Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We have deployed the open-source, modular code and tools originally developed for PomBase, the S. pombe model organism database (MOD), to create JaponicusDB (www.japonicusdb.org), a new MOD dedicated to S. japonicus. By providing a central resource with ready access to a growing body of experimental data, ontology-based curation, seamless browsing and querying, and the ability to integrate new data with existing knowledge, JaponicusDB supports fission yeast biologists to a far greater extent than any other source of S. japonicus data. JaponicusDB thus enables S. japonicus researchers to realize the full potential of studying a newly emerging model species and illustrates the widely applicable power and utility of harnessing reusable PomBase code to build a comprehensive, community-maintainable repository of species-relevant knowledge.     

微生物基因组研究进展

本综述了微生物全基因组测序的基本方法,数据收集和组装,序列缺口的填充、全基因组序列注释。同时对微生物基因组的研究现状和重大意义也作了简单概述。     

A web accessible resource for investigating cassava phenomics and genomics information: BIOGEN BASE

The goal of our research is to establish a unique portal to bring out the potential outcome of the research in the Casssava crop. The Biogen base for cassava clearly brings out the variations of different traits of the germplasms, maintained at the Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Phenotypic and genotypic variations of the accessions are clearly depicted, for the users to browse and interpret the variations using the microsatellite markers. Database (BIOGEN BASE - CASSAVA) is designed using PHP and MySQL and is equipped with extensive search options. It is more user-friendly and made publicly available, to improve the research and development of cassava by making a wealth of genetics and genomics data available through open, common, and worldwide forum for all individuals interested in the field. AVAILABILITY: The database is available for free at http://www.tnaugenomics.com/biogenbase/casava.php.     

Chinese hamster genome database: an online resource for the CHO community at www.CHOgenome.org

The Chinese hamster genome database (http://www.chogenome.org/) is an online resource for the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell communities. CHO cells are important for biomedical research and are widely used in industry for the production of biopharmaceuticals. The genome of the CHO-K1 cell line was recently sequenced and the CHO community has developed an online resource to facilitate accessibility of the genomic data and the development of genomic tools.     

Using online tools at the Bovine Genome Database to manually annotate genes in the new reference genome

With the availability of a new highly contiguous Bos taurus reference genome assembly (ARS-UCD1.2), it is the opportune time to upgrade the bovine gene set by seeking input from researchers. Furthermore, advances in graphical genome annotation tools now make it possible for researchers to leverage sequence data generated with the latest technologies to collaboratively curate genes. For many years the Bovine Genome Database (BGD) has provided tools such as the Apollo genome annotation editor to support manual bovine gene curation. The goal of this paper is to explain the reasoning behind the decisions made in the manual gene curation process while providing examples using the existing BGD tools. We will describe the sources of gene annotation evidence provided at the BGD, including RNA-seq and Iso-Seq data. We will also explain how to interpret various data visualizations when curating gene models, and will demonstrate the value of manual gene annotation. The process described here can be applied to manual gene curation for other species with similar tools. With a better understanding of manual gene annotation, researchers will be encouraged to edit gene models and contribute to the enhancement of livestock gene sets.     

Draft genome of the river water buffalo

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), a large‐sized member of the Bovidae family, is considered as an important livestock species throughout Southeast Asia. In order to better understand the molecular basis of buffalo improvement and breeding, we sequenced and assembled the genome (2n=50) of a river buffalo species Bubalus bubalis from Bangladesh. Its genome size is 2.77 Gb, with a contig N50 of 25 kb and the scaffold N50 of 6.9 Mbp. Based on the assembled genome, we annotated 24,613 genes for future functional genomics studies. Phylogenetic tree analysis of cattle and water buffalo lineages showed that they diverged about 5.8–9.8 million years ago. Our findings provide an insight into the water buffalo genome which will contribute in further research on buffalo such as molecular breeding, understanding complex traits, conservation, and biodiversity.     

Searching the human genome database for novel relaxin- and insulin-like peptides

In recent times, new members of the insulin/relaxin peptidesuperfamily have been identified by both differential cloningstrategies as well as bioinformatic searching of the ESTdatabases. We have used the public and Celera Genomicsdatabases to search for novel members of this peptide family.No new members of the insulin/relaxin family were identifiedalthough the human (H3) and mouse (M3) relaxin 3 genes that werecently discovered in the Celera Genomics database wereidentified in the public database. We were able to confirmthat there are no mouse equivalents of human INSL4 or humangene 1 relaxin. Hence, as the two human relaxin genes (H1 andH2) are localized together with INSL6 and INSL4 on chromosome9 it is probable that INSL4 and H1 relaxin are the result of agene duplication which did not occur in non-primates. Thediscovery of a full relaxin 3 sequences in a new Zebrafishbrain EST library, which retains a high homology in both A andB chain peptide sequence with the H3 peptide, indicate thatthis novel peptide has important conserved functions.     

Searching the human genome database for novel relaxin- and insulin-like peptides

Summary In recent times, new members of the insulin/relaxin peptide superfamily have been identified by both differential cloning strategies as well as bioinformatic searching of the EST databases. We have used the public and Celera Genomics databases to search for novel members of this peptide family. No new members of the insulin/relaxin family were identified although the human (H3) and mouse (M3) relaxin 3 genes that we recently discovered in the Celera Genomics database were identified in the public database. We were able to confirm that there are no mouse equivalents of human INSL-4 or human gene 1 relaxin. Hence, as the two human relaxin genes (H1 and H2) are localized together with INSL6 and INSL4 on chromosome 9 it is probable that INSL4 and H1 relaxin are the result of a gene duplication which did not occur in non-primates. The discovery of a full relaxin 3 sequences in a new Zebrafish brain EST library, which retains a high homology in both A and B chain peptide sequence with the H3 peptide, indicate that this novel peptide has important conserved functions.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome from a leptosporangiate fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome of the leptosporangiate fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (Pteridaceae). The circular genome is 150,568 bp, with a large single-copy region (LSC) of 82,282 bp, a small-single copy region (SSC) of 21,392 bp and inverted repeats (IR) of 23,447 bp each. We compared the sequence to other published chloroplast genomes to infer the location of putative genes. When the IR is considered only once, we assigned 118 genes, of which 85 encode proteins, 29 encode tRNAs and 4 encode rRNAs. Four protein-coding genes, all four rRNA genes and six tRNA genes occur in the IR. Most (57) putative protein-coding genes appear to start with an ATG codon, but we also detected five other possible start codons, some of which suggest tRNA editing. We also found 26 apparent stop codons in 18 putative genes, also suggestive of RNA editing. We found all but one of the tRNA genes necessary to encode the complete repertoire required for translation. The missing trnK gene appears to have been disrupted by a large inversion, relative to other published chloroplast genomes. We detected several structural rearrangements that may provide useful information for phylogenetic studies.     

利用蛋白质序列模式识别改善谷氨酸棒杆菌基因组注释

即使细菌基因组的基因结构较为简单,但在注释过程中也可能出现基因遗漏的现象。当潜在基因在高质量数据库中没有显著同源序列时,基于知识库的基因预测方法就会遇到困难。本文希望通过系统扫描基因组所有可能ORF的蛋白质序列模式来搜索遗漏基因。为验证该方法的可行性,作者系统分析了重要的工业发酵微生物谷氨酸棒杆菌的基因组,发现了25个候选疑似基因。它们具有显著的蛋白质序列模式,但在Swiss-Prot中元显著同源序列,并且在GenBank中仍未注释。深入分析发现,25个候选疑似基因中19个为可能基因,3个为可能假基因,3个为疑似基因序列。这些结果说明本文的分析方法可以有效地用于无显著同源序列基因的搜索。     

基于Web的高校实验中心网站的建设

采用基于Web三层结构的系统结构,利用PHP技术与MySQL网络数据库的结合实现了基于Web的高校实验中心网站的设计与开发,并介绍了网站的基本内容及强大功能。     

A reference-quality,fully annotated genome from a Puerto Rican individual

Until 2019, the human genome was available in only one fully annotated version, GRCh38, which was the result of 18 years of continuous improvement and revision. Despite dramatic improvements in sequencing technology, no other genome was available as an annotated reference until 2019, when the genome of an Ashkenazi individual, Ash1, was released. In this study, we describe the assembly and annotation of a second individual genome, from a Puerto Rican individual whose DNA was collected as part of the Human Pangenome project. The new genome, called PR1, is the first true reference genome created from an individual of African descent. Due to recent improvements in both sequencing and assembly technology, and particularly to the use of the recently completed CHM13 human genome as a guide to assembly, PR1 is more complete and more contiguous than either GRCh38 or Ash1. Annotation revealed 37,755 genes (of which 19,999 are protein coding), including 12 additional gene copies that are present in PR1 and missing from CHM13. Fifty-seven genes have fewer copies in PR1 than in CHM13, 9 map only partially, and 3 genes (all noncoding) from CHM13 are entirely missing from PR1.     

Discovering and detecting transposable elements in genome sequences

The contribution of transposable elements (TEs) to genome structure and evolution as well as their impact on genome sequencing, assembly, annotation and alignment has generated increasing interest in developing new methods for their computational analysis. Here we review the diversity of innovative approaches to identify and annotate TEs in the post-genomic era, covering both the discovery of new TE families and the detection of individual TE copies in genome sequences. These approaches span a broad spectrum in computational biology including de novo, homology-based, structure-based and comparative genomic methods. We conclude that the integration and visualization of multiple approaches and the development of new conceptual representations for TE annotation will further advance the computational analysis of this dynamic component of the genome.     

三种蚜虫的线粒体基因组数据

完整的线粒体基因组已被广泛应用于分子进化、基因组学、系统发育等方面的研究。蚜虫是一类重要的农林业害虫, 但目前公开报道的蚜虫完整线粒体基因组非常有限, 因此获得更多的基因组数据对相关研究具有重要价值。本文报道了榕毛管蚜(Greenidea ficicola)、橘二叉蚜(Aphis aurantia)和油杉纩蚜(Mindarus keteleerifoliae) 3种蚜虫的完整线粒体基因组的序列、详细注释信息、基因结构图、密码子使用情况等。该数据集可为昆虫系统发育关系、种群分化格局、害虫防治等方面的工作提供帮助。