DBTBS: a database of Bacillus subtilis promoters and transcription factors

With the completion of the determination of its entire genome sequence, one of the next major targets of Bacillus subtilis genomics is to clarify the whole gene regulatory network. To this end, the results of systematic exper iments should be compared with the rich source of individual experimental r esults accumulated so far. Thus, we constructed a database of the upstream regulatory information of B. subtilis (DBTBS). The current version was cons tructed by surveying 291 references and contains information on 90 binding factors and 403 promoters. For each promoter, all of its known cis-elements are listed according to their positions, while these cis-elements are alig ned to illustrate their consensus sequence for each transcription factor. A ll probable transcription factors coded in the genome were classified with the Pfam motifs. Using this database, We compared the character of B. subti lis promoters with that of Escherichia coli promoters. Our database is acce ssible at http://elmo.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/dbtbs/.