BC-TFdb: a database of transcription factor drivers in breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Transcription factors (TFs) are crucial DNA-binding proteins regulating biological functions.
• Altered TF function, through genetic or expression changes, contributes to cancer development, including breast cancer (BC).
• Understanding TF involvement in BC is vital for targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop BC-TFdb, an open-access, curated database of transcription factors involved in breast cancer.
• To provide comprehensive information on BC-related TFs, including genomic, proteomic, structural, and functional data.
• To facilitate research in BC by offering downloadable datasets for computational method development and drug design.

Main Methods:

• Curated collection of non-redundant transcription factors implicated in breast cancer.
• Integration of diverse data types: genomic and proteomic sequences, structural data, pathway information, mutation data, DNA binding residues, and survival/therapeutic resources.
• Development of an accessible online platform for data retrieval and download.

Main Results:

• Establishment of BC-TFdb, a centralized resource for breast cancer transcription factors.
• BC-TFdb provides detailed information on BC driver TFs, including sequence, structure, pathways, mutations, and clinical relevance.
• Downloadable high-quality datasets are available for further research and computational analysis.

Conclusions:

• BC-TFdb serves as a valuable platform for researchers investigating the role of TFs in breast cancer.
• The database supports the exploration of TF-specific information and aids in the development of computational approaches for BC drug discovery.
• BC-TFdb promotes advancements in understanding and treating breast cancer through accessible, curated TF data.