Development of a database system for mapping insertional mutations onto the mouse genome with large-scale...

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Insertional mutagenesis is a key technique for functional genomic studies, enabling rapid generation of tractable mutations.
• A large-scale piggyBac (PB) transposon-based insertional mutagenesis project in mice at IDM, Fudan University, generates substantial experimental data.
• The collaborative nature and continuous data generation necessitate an efficient database system for management and analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present MP-PBmice, a database application designed for the large-scale PB insertional mutagenesis project in mice.
• To provide a robust system for recording, managing, analyzing, and exchanging experimental data.
• To support collaboration among multiple research groups involved in the project.

Main Methods:

• Developed MP-PBmice using the Struts-Spring-Hibernate framework for a flexible and scalable application.
• Implemented features for strict access control, efficient workflow management, and system expandability.
• Created a web-based application accessible for daily data entry and information exchange.

Main Results:

• MP-PBmice facilitates collaboration by enabling daily data entry and information exchange among different groups.
• The system provides real-time progress reports for the entire insertional mutagenesis project.
• The software is adaptable for other large-scale insertional mutation mapping projects and its source code is publicly available.

Conclusions:

• MP-PBmice is a functional web-based application supporting large-scale insertional mutation mapping on the mouse genome.
• The system is successfully implemented and utilized in the ongoing genome-wide PB insertional mutation mapping project at IDM, Fudan University.
• The Struts-Spring-Hibernate framework ensures a widely adopted and maintainable technical foundation.