dbMAE: the database of autosomal monoallelic expression

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Autosomal monoallelic expression (MAE) is a widespread phenomenon observed across the genome in human and mouse tissues.
• Existing data on MAE is fragmented, necessitating a centralized resource for accessibility and dissemination.
• Understanding MAE is crucial for various biological processes and disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and present the database of autosomal monoallelic expression (dbMAE), a comprehensive resource for MAE data.
• To integrate and curate genome-wide MAE data from multiple sources for human and mouse.
• To provide a user-friendly interface for accessing and searching MAE information.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of data from recent genome-wide analyses, including transcriptome-wide allelic imbalance and chromatin signature identification.
• Manual curation of all data to ensure accuracy and uniformity.
• Re-analysis of transcriptome-wide RNA-seq data using a standardized pipeline for cross-publication consistency.

Main Results:

• dbMAE contains transcriptome-wide chromatin identification for 8 human and 21 mouse tissues.
• The database describes over 16,000 murine and approximately 700 human cases of directly measured biased gene expression.
• Data is compiled from allele-specific RNA-seq and genotyping array data, with all source references and raw data hyperlinked.

Conclusions:

• dbMAE serves as a valuable, curated resource for accessing and disseminating genome-wide autosomal monoallelic expression data.
• The database facilitates initial screening for researchers investigating the role of MAE in specific genes and tissues.
• dbMAE enhances the utility of MAE data through a unified, searchable, and hyperlinked platform.