dictyBase is a web server that provides a centralized source of information about Dictyostelium.
Web Pages contain:
-genomics information and information on individual genes
-methods and protocols for Dictyostelium research
-the phenotypes of gene deletion and REMI mutant strains
-video images of cells
-dictyNews, that provides abstracts of papers accepted for publication; this newsletter is archived and is searchable.
-an Endnote and BibTex database of all published papers referencing Dictyostelium, maintained by Jakob Franke, Columbia University
-links to other genomics information sites, including laboratories that use Dictyostelium in their research and the
Dictyostelium genome project sites
The use of DNA arrays for the analysis of gene expression is an essential tool in functional genomics. Data from the genome and from the cDNA sequencing projects are being used to apply this tool to Dictyostelium. It is clear that centralization and coordination are necessary to avoid redundancy and to assure reproducibility. The Baylor College of Medicine group (Adam Kuspa and Gad Shaulsky) are in the process of assembling the uni-gene set from genomic DNA and from cDNA clones at the Baylor College of Medicine DNA Array Facility (Jeff Tollett, Director).
A central strain repository is now open that maintains Dictyostelium strains and plasmids through the efforts of Jakob Franke and Richard Kessin at Columbia University. The facility provides access to its materials to everyone. Availibility of strains from a central resource will encourage laboratories throughout the world to work on genetically identical and well-characterized strains. This facility will also assure that important biological material is preserved.
The Dictyostelium Genome Sequencing Project is being carried out as a collaboration between three independent groups supported by United States (NICHD), the European Union, and Germany (DFG), and conducted at the Baylor Human Genome Sequencing Center in Houston (A. Kuspa, P.I.), the Sanger Centre at Hinxton (B. Barrell, P.I.), and the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology in Jena (A. Noegel, P.I.) using a chromosome-by-chromosome shotgun approach. Individual chromosomes have been separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis by Professor Edward Cox (Princeton). The DNA fractions enriched for specific chromosomes have been sheared into 1-4 kb fragments, and cloned into E. coli plasmid libraries. The libraries are being shotgun-sequenced, and the contigs assembled via semi-automated procedures.
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