MANUDB: database and application to retrieve and visualize mammalian NUMTs

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences are increasingly found integrated into the nuclear genome.
• These integrated sequences play roles in evolutionary processes and disease, including cancer.
• They also pose challenges for accurate genome assembly and phylogenetic/forensic analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce MANUDB, a publicly accessible database of mammalian nuclear mitochondrial sequences.
• To provide a centralized resource for studying the integration of mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genome.
• To facilitate research on the evolutionary and functional implications of these genomic events.

Main Methods:

• Development of a computational pipeline for identifying nuclear-integrated mitochondrial sequences in mammalian genomes.
• Curating and organizing identified sequences into a comprehensive database.
• Implementing a user-friendly interface for data retrieval and visualization.

Main Results:

• MANUDB is established, offering a uniform dataset of integrated mitochondrial sequences across mammalian species.
• The database allows users to access and visualize specific mitochondrial genome fragments within nuclear genomes.
• This resource consolidates findings from a previously developed identification pipeline.

Conclusions:

• MANUDB serves as a valuable resource for the scientific community, enabling further investigation into mitochondrial-nuclear interactions.
• The database supports research in evolutionary biology, cancer genomics, and bioinformatics.
• Public accessibility of these integrated sequences promotes advancements in genome analysis and understanding.