GExplore 1.5: a comprehensive Caenorhabditis elegans database for the analysis of gene function with a new user-friendly web interface.

Abstract

GExplore is an online tool to assist with large-scale data mining of selected datasets related to gene and protein function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we describe the current version GExplore 1.5, which contains new datasets and display options as well as a completely redesigned web interface. GExplore now consists of six databases. The gene database contains protein domain information, general expression, and phenotype data as well as interacting genes, gene ontology annotations, and disease associations. The mutation database contains a curated list of more than 200 000 mutations affecting the protein sequences of all protein-coding genes. The protein database contains proteome data from 19 different nematode species, four genetic model organisms and the human proteome for comparison. Three genome-scale RNAseq expression databases contain expression profiles of different developmental stages from embryo to adult, tissues-specific expression profiles at the L2 stage, and expression profiles of the major tissues in the developing embryo at five different time points from gastrulation to the beginning of terminal differentiation. The web-based user interface has been completely redeveloped for the current version. The search interfaces allow users to explore content of the individual databases in detail. The interactive display pages enable the user to fine-tune the results, display additional data, and download the results. GExplore is a tool to quickly obtain an overview of biological and biochemical functions of large groups of genes or identify genes with a certain combination of features for further experimental analysis. Database URL: https://genome.science.sfu.ca/gexplore.