g:Profiler-a web server for functional interpretation of gene lists (2016 update)

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Interpreting large gene lists from high-throughput experiments is crucial for biological discovery.
• Existing tools often lack comprehensive functional annotations or broad species support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the updated g:Profiler web server, a tool for functional enrichment analysis of gene lists.
• To highlight new features and expanded capabilities for gene function interpretation.

Main Methods:

• g:Profiler analyzes flat and ranked gene lists to identify statistically significant Gene Ontology terms and pathways.
• It supports translation of gene identifiers and integrates updated genomic and pathway information quarterly.
• The tool supports 213 species and offers an interactive web interface, R package, and Python interface.

Main Results:

• The 2016 update includes novel functional datasets such as transcription factor binding site predictions, Mendelian disease annotations, protein expression data, and genetic polymorphism mappings.
• g:Profiler provides timely and comprehensive functional enrichment analysis for a wide range of species.
• The tool facilitates gene list interpretation for basic and translational researchers.

Conclusions:

• g:Profiler is a valuable and continuously updated resource for functional enrichment analysis in bioinformatics.
• Its expanded features and accessibility enhance its utility for diverse research applications.
• The tool supports efficient interpretation of gene lists across numerous species and experimental contexts.