RAP: a new computer program for de novo identification of repeated sequences in whole genomes.
BACKGROUND
DNA repeats are a common feature of most genomic sequences. Their de novo identification is still difficult despite being a crucial step in genomic analysis and oligonucleotides design. Several efficient algorithms based on word counting are available, but too short words decrease specificity while long words decrease sensitivity, particularly in degenerated repeats.


RESULTS
The Repeat Analysis Program (RAP) is based on a new word-counting algorithm optimized for high resolution repeat identification using gapped words. Many different overlapping gapped words can be counted at the same genomic position, thus producing a better signal than the single ungapped word. This results in better specificity both in terms of low-frequency detection, being able to identify sequences repeated only once, and highly divergent detection, producing a generally high score in most intron sequences.


BACKGROUND
The program is freely available for non-profit organizations, upon request to the authors.


BACKGROUND
giorgio.valle@unipd.it


BACKGROUND
The program has been tested on the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using word lengths of 12, 14 and 16 bases. The full analysis has been implemented in the UCSC Genome Browser and is accessible at http://genome.cribi.unipd.it.
Campagna
Davide
D
CRIBI, Università degli Studi di Padova via Ugo Bassi 58b, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
Romualdi
Chiara
C
Vitulo
Nicola
N
Del Favero
Micky
M
Lexa
Matej
M
Cannata
Nicola
N
Valle
Giorgio
G
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software
D004247:DNA