The National Center for Biotechnology Information’s RefSeq 24 is available here. RefSeq 24 includes 6,073,814 records from 3,866,210 proteins and sequences from 4,511 different organisms. The number of species represented in each release sub-directory includes 4,511 complete species, 83 fungi, 280 invertebrate, 1,217 microbial, 1,187 mitochondrion, 105 plant, 545 plasmid, 111 protozoa, 220 vertebrate mammalian, 578 other vertebrate, and 1,908 viral. This week, two catalog files will be released: release24.taxon.new and release24.taxon.update.
The UniProt Consortium has added a new database repository for metagenomic and environmental data to its protein sequence databases. The UniProt Metagenomic and Environmental Sequences database, or UniMES, currently contains the data from the Global Ocean Sampling Expedition. The initial GOS dataset is composed of 28 million DNA sequences from oceanic microbes and predictions for nearly 6 million proteins.
A new free, public online database will debut this week with the hopes of detecting genes linked to an increased risk of bipolar disorder. The Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database — a joint project of Johns Hopkins Psychiatry and the National Institute of Mental Health — will include detailed descriptions of symptoms and chart the disease paths of more than 5,000 people with bipolar illness.
Because DNA samples also are available for this group, the database will let researchers correlate specific symptoms with sequences of genetic material. The new database, available here, is meant to complement the genetic data generated already by the Human Genome Project, the International HapMap Consortium, and the Genetic Analysis Information Network.
Hopkins has also released a second offering through the BioinforMOODics site. The database, called QuickSNP, is aset up to streamline gene searches but isn't specific to mood disorders research.
The tool enables users to intelligently select the specific DNA signposts or markers present in specific chromosome regions most likely to yield meaningful results. It also tells researchers if genes they want to study are represented on commercially available gene chips.
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium have launched the MMRC Multiple Myeloma Genomics Portal, a myeloma-specific repository of genomic data. The portal offers access to high-resolution genomic data from the MMRC Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative pre-publication and in near real-time.
The MMRC Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative is a genome-mapping program spearheaded and funded by the MMRF and MMRC and conducted with the support of and in collaboration with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.
The initiative is comprised of several research and discovery interests. More information is available here.
SequenceBase Corporation and FIZ Karlsruhe have launched the USGENE database, which covers all available peptide and nucleic acid sequences from the published applications and issued patents of the United States Patent & Trademark Office, from 1982 to date.
USGENE offers three sequence searching methods; NCBI Blast, the FastA-based GETSIM, and GETSEQ for fragment or motif sequence queries. The database also provides fully searchable organism name, sequence length, publication sequence identity number and feature tables for modifications and other features.
USGENE database includes extensive bibliographic and text search options, including publication title, abstract, patent claims, patent assignees at issue, full inventor names, plus the complete set of publication, application and parent case WIPO/PCT numbers and dates.
Tripos has released Tripos Benchware 3D Explorer Version 2.3. This version offers life science researchers decision support and 3D chemical visualization capability on their desktop computers.
Features include upgraded 3D Active-X control to allow greater deployment possibilities, integration with PowerPoint for incorporating live 3D views, and enhanced integration with Chemdraw.