Database and software for the analysis of mutations at the lacI gene in both transgenic rodents and bacteria

The use of transgenic rodents for the study of genetic toxicology has increased dramatically in the past several years. A great deal of the recent work has employed the lacI locus in transgenic mice. In addition to the transgenic data, a substantial amount of information exists regarding mutation of the lacI gene in bacteria. In an effort to centralize the information regarding mutations in the lacI gene in both rodents and bacteria, we have created a computerized database that contains information about DNA sequence alterations on about 500 mutations in transgenic rodents and 8,000 mutations in bacteria. We have also produced a software package for the analysis of the lacI database. Routines have been developed for the analysis of single base substitutions, including programs to (i) determine if two mutational spectra are different; (ii) determine if mutations show a DNA strand bias; (iii) determine the frequency of transitions and transversions; (iv) display the number and kind of mutations observed at each base in the coding region; (v) perform nearest neighbor analysis; and (vi) display mutable amino acids in the lacI protein. The software runs only on IBM-compatible machines running Microsoft Windows. The software and lacI database are freely available via the internet (http:/(/)sunsite.unc.edu/dnam/mainpage.++ +html).