title: rrndb: the Ribosomal RNA Operon Copy Number Database.
abstract: The Ribosomal RNA Operon Copy Number Database (rrndb) is an Internet-accessible database containing annotated information on rRNA operon copy number among prokaryotes. Gene redundancy is uncommon in prokaryotic genomes, yet the rRNA genes can vary from one to as many as 15 copies. Despite the widespread use of 16S rRNA gene sequences for identification of prokaryotes, information on the number and sequence of individual rRNA genes in a genome is not readily accessible. In an attempt to understand the evolutionary implications of rRNA operon redundancy, we have created a phylogenetically arranged report on rRNA gene copy number for a diverse collection of prokaryotic microorganisms. Each entry (organism) in the rrndb contains detailed information linked directly to external websites including the Ribosomal Database Project, GenBank, PubMed and several culture collections. Data contained in the rrndb will be valuable to researchers investigating microbial ecology and evolution using 16S rRNA gene sequences. The rrndb web site is directly accessible on the WWW at http://rrndb.cme. msu.edu.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, 203 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1101, USA.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Klappenbach
authors: P R
authors: PR
authors: Saxman
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Cole
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D018628:Gene Dosage; D020459:Genes, rRNA / Q000235:genetics; D020407:Internet; D010802:Phylogeny; D012407:rRNA Operon / Q000235:genetics*