Database Commons

a catalog of worldwide biological databases

The first ever cyanobacterial genome sequence was determined two decades ago and CyanoBase (http://genome.microbedb.jp/cyanobase), the first database for cyanobacteria was simultaneously developed to allow this genomic information to be used more efficiently. Since then, CyanoBase has constantly been extended and has received several updates. Here, we describe a new large-scale update of the database, which coincides with its 20th anniversary. We have expanded the number of cyanobacterial genomic sequences from 39 to 376 species, which consists of 86 complete and 290 draft genomes. We have also optimized the user interface for large genomic data to include the use of semantic web technologies and JBrowse and have extended community-based reannotation resources through the re-annotation of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by the cyanobacterial research community. These updates have markedly improved CyanoBase, providing cyanobacterial genome annotations as references for cyanobacterial research. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

To understand newly sequenced genomes of closely related species, comprehensively curated reference genome databases are becoming increasingly important. We have extended CyanoBase (http://genome.microbedb.jp/cyanobase), a genome database for cyanobacteria, and newly developed RhizoBase (http://genome.microbedb.jp/rhizobase), a genome database for rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with leguminous plants. Both databases focus on the representation and reusability of reference genome annotations, which are continuously updated by manual curation. Domain experts have extracted names, products and functions of each gene reported in the literature. To ensure effectiveness of this procedure, we developed the TogoAnnotation system offering a web-based user interface and a uniform storage of annotations for the curators of the CyanoBase and RhizoBase databases. The number of references investigated for CyanoBase increased from 2260 in our previous report to 5285, and for RhizoBase, we perused 1216 references. The results of these intensive annotations are displayed on the GeneView pages of each database. Advanced users can also retrieve this information through the representational state transfer-based web application programming interface in an automated manner.

CyanoBase (http://genome.kazusa.or.jp/cyanobase) is the genome database for cyanobacteria, which are model organisms for photosynthesis. The database houses cyanobacteria species information, complete genome sequences, genome-scale experiment data, gene information, gene annotations and mutant information. In this version, we updated these datasets and improved the navigation and the visual display of the data views. In addition, a web service API now enables users to retrieve the data in various formats with other tools, seamlessly.

CyanoBase provides an online resource for access to data on genomic information about the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803. The database contains annotations for each protein-coding gene deduced from the entire nucleotide sequence of the genome, gene classification lists, and keyword and similarity search engines. Core portions of CyanoBase consist of annotations for each of the 3168 protein genes deduced from the entire nucleotide sequence of this genome. The contents of each gene were improved by updating with the results of similarity searches and by introducing references for analysis in bioinformatics. The database now contains repository facilities that store and provide experimental information, in addition to providing proposals for the function of each gene. This information should help to avoid unnecessary, overlapping experiments and should assist communication between scientists who wish to elucidate the function of putative genes on the cyanobacteria genome. The current URL of CyanoBase is http://www.kazusa.or.jp:8080/cyano/

CyanoBase (http://www.kazusa.or.jp/cyano/) is a database containing genomic information on the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803. It furnishes an annotation to each of the 3168 protein genes deduced from the entire nucleotide sequence of this genome. Information on the genome can be directly accessed through three different menus: a clickable physical map of the genome, a gene classification list, and a keyword search menu, all of which are accessible from the main page of the database. The entry page for a gene annotation contains the following information: the location of the gene on the genome, the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the gene, the result of a similarity search, and the classification of the deduced gene product according to its function. This page has reverse-links to the local physical map and gene classification list so that relevant genes can be searched in terms of their location on the genome and their function. In addition, the main page of CyanoBase provides engines for similarity searches between a query sequence and the entire genome sequence and for keyword searches, in addition to numerous links to pages containing related information.