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DES-ncRNA: A knowledgebase for exploring information about human micro and long noncoding RNAs based on
Adil Salhi1, Magbubah Essack1, Tanvir Alam1
1a King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC) , Thuwal , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
RNA Biology
|April 8, 2017
Summary
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are key in disease and drug development. The DES-ncRNA knowledgebase links ncRNAs with biomedical entities, aiding research and drug discovery for conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Informatics
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), play crucial roles in disease pathogenesis.
- Understanding the interactions between ncRNAs and other cellular components is vital for developing ncRNA-based therapeutics.
- Existing resources may not comprehensively capture the multifaceted roles of ncRNAs in human health and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a comprehensive knowledgebase, DES-ncRNA, for exploring associations related to human microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs.
- To facilitate the retrieval and analysis of ncRNA-related information from scientific literature and public databases.
- To support research in ncRNA function, disease association, and therapeutic potential.
Main Methods:
- Developed DES-ncRNA, a knowledgebase integrating text- and data-mined information from scientific literature and public resources.
- Utilized 19 topic-specific dictionaries to establish associations between ncRNAs and biomedical entities (e.g., drugs, genes, diseases).
- Implemented functionalities for exploring mined information, generating association networks, and formulating research hypotheses.
Main Results:
- The DES-ncRNA knowledgebase contains approximately 878,000 term associations, with over 36,000 specifically linking to miRNAs and lncRNAs.
- Demonstrated the utility of DES-ncRNA in Alzheimer's disease research, suggesting Fasudil as a potential therapeutic agent.
- Established DES-ncRNA as a unique resource for exploring a wide range of biomedical entities associated with human ncRNAs.
Conclusions:
- DES-ncRNA provides a powerful, literature-mined resource for advancing human ncRNA research.
- The knowledgebase facilitates the discovery of novel ncRNA functions and therapeutic targets.
- DES-ncRNA serves as a valuable standalone tool or complement to existing resources for biomedical researchers.