Open Access Published by De Gruyter

Volume 6 Issue 1

Issue of Journal of Integrative Bioinformatics

Contents
Journal Overview

Open Access October 18, 2016

An approach to pathway reconstruction using whole genome metabolic models and sensitive sequence searching

Mansoor Saqi, Richard Jb. Dobson, Preben Kraben, David A. Hodgson, David L. Wild

Page range: 1-14

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Abstract

Metabolic models have the potential to impact on genome annotation and on the interpretation of gene expression and other high throughput genome data. The genome of Streptomyces coelicolor genome has been sequenced and some 30% of the open reading frames (ORFs) lack any functional annotation. A recently constructed metabolic network model for S. coelicolor highlights biochemical functions which should exist to make the metabolic model complete and consistent. These include 205 reactions for which no ORF is associated. Here we combine protein functional predictions for the unannotated open reading frames in the genome with ‘missing but expected’ functions inferred from the metabolic model. The approach allows function predictions to be evaluated in the context of the biochemical pathway reconstruction, and feed back iteratively into the metabolic model. We describe the approach and discuss a few illustrative examples.

Open Access October 18, 2016

Goober: A fully integrated and user-friendly microarray data management and analysis solution for core labs and bench biologists

Wen Luo, Murali Gudipati, Kevin Jung, Mao Chen, Keith B. Marschke

Page range: 15-24

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Abstract

Despite the large number of software tools developed to address different areas of microarray data analysis, very few offer an all-in-one solution with little learning curve. For microarray core labs, there are even fewer software packages available to help with their routine but critical tasks, such as data quality control (QC) and inventory management. We have developed a simple-to-use web portal to allow bench biologists to analyze and query complicated microarray data and related biological pathways without prior training. Both experiment-based and gene-based analysis can be easily performed, even for the first-time user, through the intuitive multi-layer design and interactive graphic links. While being friendly to inexperienced users, most parameters in Goober can be easily adjusted via drop-down menus to allow advanced users to tailor their needs and perform more complicated analysis. Moreover, we have integrated graphic pathway analysis into the website to help users examine microarray data within the relevant biological content. Goober also contains features that cover most of the common tasks in microarray core labs, such as real time array QC, data loading, array usage and inventory tracking. Overall, Goober is a complete microarray solution to help biologists instantly discover valuable information from a microarray experiment and enhance the quality and productivity of microarray core labs. The whole package is freely available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/goober. A demo web server is available at http://www.goober-array.org.

Open Access October 18, 2016

Global sequence properties for superfamily prediction: a machine learning approach

Richard Jb. Dobson, Patricia B Munroe, Mark J Caulfield, Mansoor Saqi

Page range: 25-49

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Abstract

Functional annotation of a protein sequence in the absence of experimental data or clear similarity to a sequence of known function is difficult. In this study, a simple set of sequence attributes based on physicochemical and predicted structural characteristics were used as input to machine learning methods. In order to improve performance through increasing the data available for training, a technique of sequence enrichment was explored. These methods were used to predict membership to 24 and 49 large and diverse protein superfamiles from the SCOP database. We found the best performance was obtained using an enriched training dataset. Accuracies of 66.3% and 55.6% were achieved on datasets comprising 24 and 49 superfamilies with LibSVM and AdaBoostM1 respectively. The methods used here confirm that domains within superfamilies share global sequence properties. We show machine learning models used to predict categories within the SCOP database can be significantly improved via a simple sequence enrichment step. These approaches can be used to complement profile methods for detecting distant relationships where function is difficult to infer.

About this journal

Objective
Journal of Integrative Bioinformatics (JIB) is an international open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of integrative bioinformatics.

Molecular biology produces huge amounts of data in the post-genomic era. This includes data describing metabolic mechanisms and pathways, structural genomic organization, patterns of regulatory regions; proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. On the one hand, analysis of this data uses essentially the methods and concepts of computer science; on the other hand, the range of biological tasks solved by researchers determines the range and scope of the data. Currently, there are about 1,000 database systems and various analytical tools available via the Internet which are directed at solving various biological tasks.

The challenge we have is to integrate these list-parts and relationships from genomics and proteomics at novel levels of understanding. Integrative Bioinformatics is a new area of research using the tools of computer science and electronic infrastructure applied to Biotechnology. These tools will also represent the backbone of the concept of a virtual cell.

Topics

Software applications/tools and databases covering the following topics:

Molecular Databases, Information Systems and Data Warehouses
Integration of Data, Methods and Tools
Metabolic and Regulatory Network Modeling and Simulation
Signal Pathways and Cell Control
Network Analysis
Medical Informatics, Biomedicine and Biotechnology
Integrative Approaches for Drug Design
Integrative Data and Text Mining Approaches
Integrative, whole cell and molecular modeling
Visualization and animation

Review papers are also welcome with regard to JIB.tools.

Article formats
Research articles, Review papers, Workshop contributions (if peer-reviewed)

Article processing charges (APCs)
Each unsolicited article, which is accepted for publication in the Journal of Integrative Bioinformatics is subject to an Article Processing Charge of 1,000€.
The Open Access publication of invited articles for Special Issues is sponsored by the editors.

Inquiries concerning APCs should be addressed to the Editorial Office at De Gruyter (see contact details below).