Poster #RP127
DBTGR, a database for the analysis of tunicate promoters
Nicolas Sierro*, Kenta Nakai*
*Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Tunicates are lower chordates that include among others the two ascidians Ciona intestinalis and Ciona savignyi. This subphylum is particularly interesting because it shares many developmental and physiological characteristics, as well as basic gene repertoires, with vertebrates. The recent sequencing of two different Ciona genomes has lead to the identification of numerous genes. In order to better understand the regulation of these genes, DBTGR, a DataBase of Tunicate Gene Regulation, was created. It contains information on regulation of tunicate genes collected from literature, such as the minimal promoter length, the transcription factors involved and their binding sites or the localization of the gene expression, as well as binding sites for characterized transcription factors predicted based on published in vitro recognition sites. To allow identification of conserved cis elements, comparison of the promoters of homologous genes in both species is also provided.