The genexpress IMAGE knowledge base of the human muscle transcriptome: A resource of structural, functional, and positional candidate genes for muscle physiology and pathologies

Sequence, gene mapping, and expression data corresponding to 910 genes tran scribed in human skeletal muscle have been integrated to Form the muscle mo dule of the Genexpress IMAGE Knowledge Base. Based on cDNA array hybridizat ion, a set of 14 transcripts preferentially or specifically expressed in mu scle have been selected and characterized in more detail: Their pattern of expression was confirmed by Northern blot analysis; their structure was fur ther characterized by Full-insert cDNA sequencing and cDNA extension; the m ap location of the corresponding genes was refined by radiation hybrid mapp ing. Five of the 14 selected genes appear as interesting positional and fun ctional candidate genes to study in relation with muscle physiology and/or specific orphan muscular pathologies. One example is discussed in more deta il. The expression profiling data and the associated Genexpress Index2 entr ies for the 910 genes and the detailed characterization of the 14 selected transcripts are available from a dedicated Web server at http://idefix.upr4 20.vjF.cnrs.f/IMAGE/Page_unique/ welcome_muscles.html. The database has bee n organized to provide the users with a working space where they can find c urated, annotated, integrated data for their genes of interest. Different n avigation routes to exploit the resource are discussed.