With the explosion in genomic and proteomic data stored in a variety of databases, there is an increasing need for this information to be brought together in a way that is easy to access and intuitive to use. In response to this need, the European Bioinformatics Institute has recently launched the Integr8 web site, providing a one-stop shop for researchers exploring gene and protein function.
Integr8 currently houses data on more than 180 species of archaeans, bacteria and eukaryotes, providing information on taxonomy, genome structure and proteomics. For each species, proteins are classified according to sequence similarity, structure and function, giving the user an overview of proteome content. There is also the option of comparing this information across several species. Alternatively, if you have a particular gene or protein in mind, a simple search pulls out a wealth of information, including links to entries in gene and protein databases, structural data, key references from the published literature and a summary of expression patterns and function.
The site also provides several other useful resources. For example, the BioMart tool allows complex searches of several databases using a range of criteria, such as species name, chromosomal region, and protein structure and function. There is also access to FASTA similarity and homology searching, enabling comparisons with sequences from proteome and genome databases.
So, Integr8 truly lives up to its name, and should allow researchers from diverse fields to make the most of the increasing availability of genomic and proteomic information.
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Flintoft, L. Integr8 genome and proteome browser. Nat Rev Genet 5, 638 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1444
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1444
