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FASMA: a service to format and analyze sequences in multiple alignments
Susan Costantini1, Giovanni Colonna, Angelo M Facchiano
1Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Institute of Food Science, CNR, via Roma 52 A/C, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics
|February 13, 2008
Summary
We developed FASMA, a new service to visualize and analyze large multiple sequence alignments. This tool aids in comparing aligned sequences and generating final alignment images for better understanding of structural and functional relations.
Area of Science:
- Bioinformatics
- Computational Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) are crucial for understanding sequence relationships.
- Large MSAs from growing sequence databases pose visualization and analysis challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce FASMA, a novel service for visualizing and analyzing MSAs.
- To provide enhanced features for comparing aligned sequences and generating alignment images.
Main Methods:
- Development of a web-based service (FASMA).
- Integration of visualization and analysis tools for MSAs.
- Support for multiple external alignment algorithms.
Main Results:
- FASMA offers new features for effective MSA visualization and analysis.
- The service facilitates comparison of aligned sequences.
- FASMA enables the creation of high-quality alignment images.
Conclusions:
- FASMA addresses the challenges of handling large MSAs.
- The service enhances the study of structural and functional relationships in biological sequences.
- FASMA is accessible online at http://bioinformatica.isa.cnr.it/FASMA/.
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