PSI:Biology-materials repository: a biologist's resource for protein expression plasmids

Area of Science:

• Structural Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The Protein Structure Initiative (PSI) generates vast amounts of structural data for proteins.
• Access to well-annotated protein expression plasmids is crucial for functional studies.
• A centralized repository is needed to manage and distribute these valuable biological materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the infrastructure and services of the Protein Structure Initiative:Biology-Materials Repository (PSI:Biology-MR).
• To highlight the role of the DNASU database in managing and distributing protein expression plasmids.
• To explain how the PSI:Biology-MR facilitates research into protein function.

Main Methods:

• Development of an informatics and sample processing pipeline for managing thousands of samples monthly.
• Creation of the DNASU database for storing and searching over 130,000 plasmid annotations.
• Implementation of an expedited material transfer agreement (EP-MTA) network for rapid plasmid distribution.

Main Results:

• The PSI:Biology-MR manages and distributes protein expression plasmids and vectors created by the PSI and other consortia.
• The DNASU database provides comprehensive annotations, including full-length sequences and vector information.
• As of March 2011, over 39,000 protein expression plasmids and 78 empty vectors are available through DNASU.
• The EP-MTA network simplifies and expedites plasmid requests for network institutions.

Conclusions:

• The PSI:Biology-MR, through its automated pipeline and DNASU database, effectively provides expression-ready plasmids to the research community.
• This resource significantly aids researchers in dissecting the biological functions of proteins studied by the PSI.
• The repository enhances the accessibility and usability of valuable protein expression tools for global scientific research.