YPED: a web-accessible database system for protein expression analysis

We have developed an integrated web-accessible software system called the Yale Protein Expression Database (YPED) to address the need for storage, retrieval, and integrated analysis of large amounts of data from high throughput proteomic technologies. YPED is an open source system which integrates gel analysis results with protein identifications from DIGE experiments. The system associates the DIGE gel spots and image, analyzed with DeCyder, with mass spectrometric protein identifications from selected gel spots. Following in gel trypsin digestion, proteins in spots of interest are analyzed using MALDI-TOF/TOF on an AB 4700 or, more recently, on an AB 4800 with protein identifications performed by Mascot in conjunction with the AB GPS Explorer system. In addition to DIGE, YPED currently handles protein identifications from MudPIT, iTRAQ, and ICAT experiments. Sample descriptions are compatible with the evolving MIAPE standards. Tandem MS/MS results from MudPIT, and ICAT analyses are validated with the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline and then stored in the database for viewing and linking to the identified proteins. Researchers can view, subset, and download their data through a secure Web interface that includes a table containing proteins identified, a sample summary, the sample description, and a clickable gel image for DIGE samples. Tools are available to facilitate sample comparison and the viewing of phosphoproteins. A summary report with PANTHER Classification System annotations is also available to aid in biological interpretation of the results. The source code is open-source and is available from http://yped.med.yale.edu/yped_dist.