The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP).

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) is a curated database that offers ribosome-related data, analysis services and associated computer programs. The offerings include phylogenetically ordered alignments of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences, derived phylogenetic trees, rRNA secondary structure diagrams and various software for handling, analyzing and displaying alignments and trees. The data are available via anonymous ftp (rdp.life.uiuc.edu), electronic mail (server@rdp.life.uiuc.edu), gopher (rdpgopher.life.uiuc.edu) and World Wide Web (WWW)(http://rdpwww.life.uiuc.edu/). The electronic mail and WWW servers provide ribosomal probe checking, screening for possible chimeric rRNA sequences, automated alignment and approximate phylogenetic placement of user-submitted sequences on an existing phylogenetic tree.     

The RDP (Ribosomal Database Project).

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) is a curated database that offers ribosome-related data, analysis services and associated computer programs. The offerings include phylogenetically ordered alignments of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences, derived phylogenetic trees, rRNA secondary structure diagrams, and various software for handling, analyzing and displaying alignments and trees. The data are available via anonymous FTP (rdp.life.uiuc.edu), electronic mail (server@rdp.life.uiuc.edu), gopher (rdpgopher.life.uiuc.edu) and WWW (http://rdpwww.life.uiuc.edu/ ). The electronic mail and WWW servers provide ribosomal probe checking, approximate phylogenetic placement of user-submitted sequences, screening for possible chimeric rRNA sequences, automated alignment, and a suggested placement of an unknown sequence on an existing phylogenetic tree.     

A new version of the RDP (Ribosomal Database Project).

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP-II), previously described by Maidak et al. [ Nucleic Acids Res. (1997), 25, 109-111], is now hosted by the Center for Microbial Ecology at Michigan State University. RDP-II is a curated database that offers ribosomal RNA (rRNA) nucleotide sequence data in aligned and unaligned forms, analysis services, and associated computer programs. During the past two years, data alignments have been updated and now include >9700 small subunit rRNA sequences. The recent development of an ObjectStore database will provide more rapid updating of data, better data accuracy and increased user access. RDP-II includes phylogenetically ordered alignments of rRNA sequences, derived phylogenetic trees, rRNA secondary structure diagrams, and various software programs for handling, analyzing and displaying alignments and trees. The data are available via anonymous ftp (ftp.cme.msu. edu) and WWW (http://www.cme.msu.edu/RDP). The WWW server provides ribosomal probe checking, approximate phylogenetic placement of user-submitted sequences, screening for possible chimeric rRNA sequences, automated alignment, and a suggested placement of an unknown sequence on an existing phylogenetic tree. Additional utilities also exist at RDP-II, including distance matrix, T-RFLP, and a Java-based viewer of the phylogenetic trees that can be used to create subtrees.     

The RDP-II (Ribosomal Database Project)

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP-II), previously described by Maidak et al. [Nucleic Acids Res. (2000), 28, 173-174], continued during the past year to add new rRNA sequences to the aligned data and to improve the analysis commands. Release 8.0 (June 1, 2000) consisted of 16 277 aligned prokaryotic small subunit (SSU) rRNA sequences while the number of eukaryotic and mitochondrial SSU rRNA sequences in aligned form remained at 2055 and 1503, respectively. The number of prokaryotic SSU rRNA sequences more than doubled from the previous release 14 months earlier, and approximately 75% are longer than 899 bp. An RDP-II mirror site in Japan is now available (http://wdcm.nig.ac.jp/RDP/html/index.h tml). RDP-II provides aligned and annotated rRNA sequences, derived phylogenetic trees and taxonomic hierarchies, and analysis services through its WWW server (http://rdp.cme.msu.edu/). Analysis services include rRNA probe checking, approximate phylogenetic placement of user sequences, screening user sequences for possible chimeric rRNA sequences, automated alignment, production of similarity matrices and services to plan and analyze terminal restriction fragment polymorphism experiments. The RDP-II email address for questions and comments has been changed from curator@cme.msu.edu to rdpstaff@msu.edu.     

The Ribosomal Database Project.

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) is a curated database that offers ribosome-related data, analysis services, and associated computer programs. The offerings include phylogenetically ordered alignments of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences, derived phylogenetic trees, rRNA secondary structure diagrams, and various software for handling, analyzing and displaying alignments and trees. The data are available via anonymous ftp (rdp.life.uiuc.edu), electronic mail (server/rdp.life.uiuc.edu) and gopher (rdpgopher.life.uiuc.edu). The electronic mail server also provides ribosomal probe checking, approximate phylogenetic placement of user-submitted sequences, screening for chimeric nature of newly sequenced rRNAs, and automated alignment.     

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP-II): previewing a new autoaligner that allows regular updates and the new prokaryotic taxonomy

The Ribosomal Database Project-II (RDP-II) pro-vides data, tools and services related to ribosomal RNA sequences to the research community. Through its website (http://rdp.cme.msu.edu), RDP-II offers aligned and annotated rRNA sequence data, analysis services, and phylogenetic inferences (trees) derived from these data. RDP-II release 8.1 contains 16 277 prokaryotic, 5201 eukaryotic, and 1503 mitochondrial small subunit rRNA sequences in aligned and annotated format. The current public beta release of 9.0 debuts a new regularly updated alignment of over 50 000 annotated (eu)bacterial sequences. New analysis services include a sequence search and selection tool (Hierarchy Browser) and a phylogenetic tree building and visualization tool (Phylip Interface). A new interactive tutorial guides users through the basics of rRNA sequence analysis. Other services include probe checking, phylogenetic placement of user sequences, screening of users' sequences for chimeric rRNA sequences, automated alignment, production of similarity matrices, and services to plan and analyze terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (T-RFLP) experiments. The RDP-II email address for questions or comments is rdpstaff@msu.edu.     

The European Large Subunit Ribosomal RNA Database

The European Large Subunit Ribosomal RNA Database compiles all complete or nearly complete large subunit ribosomal RNA sequences available from public sequence databases. These are provided in aligned format and the secondary structure, as derived by comparative sequence analysis, is included. Additional information about the sequences such as literature references and taxonomic information is also included. The database is available from our WWW server at http://rrna.uia.ac.be/lsu/.     

5S Ribosomal RNA Database

Ribosomal 5S RNA (5S rRNA) is an integral component of the large ribosomal subunit in all known organisms with the exception only of mitochondrial ribosomes of fungi and animals. It is thought to enhance protein synthesis by stabilization of a ribosome structure. This paper presents the updated database of 5S rRNA and their genes (5S rDNA). Its short characteristics are presented in the Introduction. The database contains 2280 primary structures of 5S rRNA and 5S rRNA genes. These include 536 eubacterial, 61 archaebacterial, 1611 eukaryotic and 72 organelle sequences. The database is available on line through the World Wide Web at http://biobases.ibch.poznan.pl/5SData/.     

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.     

The Database of Ribosomal Cross-links: an update.

The Database of Ribosomal Cross-links (DRC) was created in 1997. Here we describe new data incorporated into this database and several new features of the DRC. The DRC is freely available via World Wide Web at http://visitweb.com/database/ or http://www. mpimg-berlin-dahlem.mpg.de/ approximately ag_ribo/ag_brimacombe/drc/     

RIDOM: Ribosomal Differentiation of Medical Micro-organisms Database

The ribosomal differentiation of medical micro-organisms (RIDOM) web server, first described by Harmsen et al. [Harmsden,D., Rothganger,J., Singer,C., Albert,J. and Frosch,M. (1999) Lancet, 353, 291], is an evolving electronic resource designed to provide micro-organism differentiation services for medical identification needs. The diagnostic procedure begins with a specimen partial small subunit ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequence. Resulting from a similarity search, a species or genus name for the specimen in question will be returned. Where the first results are ambiguous or do not define to species level, hints for further molecular, i.e. internal transcribed spacer, and conventional phenotypic differentiation will be offered (‘sequential and polyphasic approach’). Additionally, each entry in RIDOM contains detailed medical and taxonomic information linked, context-sensitive, to external World Wide Web services. Nearly all sequences are newly determined and the sequence chromatograms are available for intersubjective quality control. Similarity searches are now also possible by direct submission of trace files (ABI or SCF format). Based on the PHRED/PHRAP software, error probability measures are attached to each predicted nucleotide base and visualised with a new ‘Trace Editor’. The RIDOM web site is directly accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.ridom.de/. The email address for questions and comments is webmaster@ridom.de.     

The Quebec Life Cycle Inventory Database Project

Purpose

Life cycle assessment (LCA) in Quebec (Canada) is increasingly important. Yet, studies often still need to rely on foreign life cycle inventory (LCI) data. The Quebec government invested in the creation of a Quebec LCI database. The approach is to work as an ecoinvent “National Database Initiative” (NDI), whereby the Quebec database initiative uses and contributes to the ecoinvent database. The paper clarifies the relationship between ecoinvent and the Quebec NDI and provides details on prioritization and data collection.

Methods

The first steps were to select a partner database provider and to work out the modalities of the partnership. The main criterion for partner selection was database transparency, i.e., availability of unit process data (gate-to-gate), necessary for database adaptation. This and other criteria, such as free access to external reviewers, conservation of dataset copyright, seamless embedding of datasets, and overall database sophistication, pointed to ecoinvent. Once started, the NDI project proceeded as follows: (1) data collection was prioritized based on several criteria; (2) some datasets were “recontextualized,” i.e., existing datasets were duplicated and relocated in Quebec and linked to datasets representing regional suppliers, where relevant; (3) new datasets were created; and (4) Canadian environmentally extended supply-use tables were created for the ecoinvent IO repository.

Results and discussion

Prioritization identified 500 candidate datasets for recontextualization, based on the relative importance of relative contribution of direct electricity consumption to cradle-to-gate impacts, and 12 key sectors from which about 450 data adaptation or collection projects were singled out. Data collection and private sector solicitation are underway. Private sector participation is highly variable. A number of communication tools have been elaborated and a solicitation team formed to palliate this obstacle. The new ecoinvent database protocol (Weidema et al. 2011) increases the amount of information that is required to create a dataset, which can lengthen or, in extreme cases, impede dataset creation. However, this new information is required for the new database functionalities (e.g., providing multiple system models based on the same unit process data and regionalized LCA).

Conclusions

Being an NDI is advantageous for the Quebec LCI database project on multiple levels. By conserving dataset copyright, the NDI remains free to spawn or support other LCI databases. Embedding datasets in ecoinvent enables the generation of LCI results from “day 1.” The costs of IT infrastructure and data review are null. For these reasons, and because every NDI improves the global representativity of ecoinvent, we recommend other regional or national database projects work as NDIs.

     

The Adaptive Evolution Database (TAED)

Background  

Developing an understanding of the molecular basis for the divergence of species lies at the heart of biology. The Adaptive Evolution Database (TAED) serves as a starting point to link events that occur at the same time in the evolutionary history (tree of life) of species, based upon coding sequence evolution analyzed with the Master Catalog. The Master Catalog is a collection of evolutionary models, including multiple sequence alignments, phylogenetic trees, and reconstructed ancestral sequences, for all independently evolving protein sequence modules encoded by genes in GenBank [1].     

rrndb: the Ribosomal RNA Operon Copy Number Database

The Ribosomal RNA Operon Copy Number Database (rrndb) is an Internet-accessible database containing annotated information on rRNA operon copy number among prokaryotes. Gene redundancy is uncommon in prokaryotic genomes, yet the rRNA genes can vary from one to as many as 15 copies. Despite the widespread use of 16S rRNA gene sequences for identification of prokaryotes, information on the number and sequence of individual rRNA genes in a genome is not readily accessible. In an attempt to understand the evolutionary implications of rRNA operon redundancy, we have created a phylogenetically arranged report on rRNA gene copy number for a diverse collection of prokaryotic microorganisms. Each entry (organism) in the rrndb contains detailed information linked directly to external websites including the Ribosomal Database Project, GenBank, PubMed and several culture collections. Data contained in the rrndb will be valuable to researchers investigating microbial ecology and evolution using 16S rRNA gene sequences. The rrndb web site is directly accessible on the WWW at http://rrndb.cme. msu.edu.     

The Mouse Gene Expression Database (GXD)

The Gene Expression Database (GXD) is a community resource of gene expression information for the laboratory mouse. By combining the different types of expression data, GXD aims to provide increasingly complete information about the expression profiles of genes in different mouse strains and mutants, thus enabling valuable insights into the molecular networks that underlie normal development and disease. GXD is integrated with the Mouse Genome Database (MGD). Extensive interconnections with sequence databases and with databases from other species, and the development and use of shared controlled vocabularies extend GXD's utility for the analysis of gene expression information. GXD is accessible through the Mouse Genome Informatics web site at http://www.informatics.jax.org/ or directly at http://www.informatics.jax.org/menus/expression_menu. shtml.     

The controversy continues

Function, Phylogeny and Fossils: Miocene Hominoid Evolution and Adaptations Begun, DG, Ward, CV, Rose, MD eds. (1997). New York: Plenum Press. xii + 424 pp. ISBN 0-306-45457-2. $120.00 (cloth). The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas Bernor, RL, Fahlbusch, V, Mittman, H (eds). (1996). New York: Columbia University Press. ix + 487 pp. ISBN 0-231-08246-0. $92.00 (cloth). © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The life sciences Global Image Database (GID)

Although a vast amount of life sciences data is generated in the form of images, most scientists still store images on extremely diverse and often incompatible storage media, without any type of metadata structure, and thus with no standard facility with which to conduct searches or analyses. Here we present a solution to unlock the value of scientific images. The Global Image Database (GID) is a web-based (http://www.gwer.ch/qv/gid/gid.ht m ) structured central repository for scientific annotated images. The GID was designed to manage images from a wide spectrum of imaging domains ranging from microscopy to automated screening. The annotations in the GID define the source experiment of the images by describing who the authors of the experiment are, when the images were created, the biological origin of the experimental sample and how the sample was processed for visualization. A collection of experimental imaging protocols provides details of the sample preparation, and labeling, or visualization procedures. In addition, the entries in the GID reference these imaging protocols with the probe sequences or antibody names used in labeling experiments. The GID annotations are searchable by field or globally. The query results are first shown as image thumbnail previews, enabling quick browsing prior to original-sized annotated image retrieval. The development of the GID continues, aiming at facilitating the management and exchange of image data in the scientific community, and at creating new query tools for mining image data.     

Ribosomal RNA genes inQuercus spp. (Fagaceae)

The taxonomy of the genusQuercus is still unclear. In order to elucidate the taxonomy of Mediterranean oaks we have analyzed ribosomal RNA genes ofQuercus cerris, Q. coccifera, Q. trojana, Q. ilex, Q. suber, andQ. macrolepis by means of Southern blot hybridization. Oak nuclear DNA was extracted from root tips of 300 acorns and from catkins of single plants. EcoRI and BamHI restriction endonucleases were used. DNA electrophoresis and rRNA/DNA hybridization were performed usingVicia faba rRNA 18 S and 25 S as probes. The rRNA genes of all the species studied have an identical restriction mapping in the 18 S and 25 S regions, while differences in length are present in the intergenic regions.Q. cerris possesses at least four types of genes of 12.1, 11.5, 8.5, and 8.3 kb;Q. coccifera at least three types of 12.4, 10.4, and 10.1 kb;Q. trojana possesses the same rRNA genes asQ. cerris plus another gene type 12.0 kb long, with EcoRI and BamHI restriction sites in the intergenic spacer;Q. ilex at least three types of 12.4, 10.85, and 9.5 kb;Q. suber at least five types of 11.5, 11.0, 8.6, 8.5, and 8.3 kb;Q. macrolepis, finally, at least seven types of 11.5, 11.0, 10.2, 8.6, 8.5, 8.3, and 8.15 kb.Q. coccifera andQ. ilex rDNA appears quite different respect to other species examined, while high similarity seems to exist betweenQ. cerris, Q. trojana, Q. suber, andQ. macrolepis. These results are in agreement with the taxonomic model proposed bySchwarz for the genusQuercus.