A DATABASE OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ON GLOBIN GENE-EXPRESSION

Information on gene expression and regulation is expanding rapidly, an d the complexity of the experimental design and data makes unique dema nds on databases to store the results. We describe a prototype databas e containing experimental results on the expression of mammalian P-lik e globin genes, along with several query methods for accessing the inf ormation. The database has tables for DNA transfer experiments, protei n-DNA binding results, and positions of DNase hypersensitive sites, wh ich make extensive use of nested data structures. Comparison of data f rom various mammals is accomplished by providing a common coordinate s ystem via a simultaneous alignment of matching DNA sequences. Interact ive access to the database is available at a site called the Globin Ge ne Server on the World Wide Web (http://globin.cse. psu.edu). This sof tware should be useful for any genetic system in which DNA sequence da ta are available. (C) 1998 Academic Press.