title: EndoNet: an information resource about endocrine networks.
abstract: EndoNet is a new database that provides information about the components of endocrine networks and their relations. It focuses on the endocrine cell-to-cell communication and enables the analysis of intercellular regulatory pathways in humans. In the EndoNet data model, two classes of components span a bipartite directed graph. One class represents the hormones (in the broadest sense) secreted by defined donor cells. The other class consists of the acceptor or target cells expressing the corresponding hormone receptors. The identity and anatomical environment of cell types, tissues and organs is defined through references to the CYTOMER ontology. With the EndoNet user interface, it is possible to query the database for hormones, receptors or tissues and to combine several items from different search rounds in one complex result set, from which a network can be reconstructed and visualized. For each entity, a detailed characteristics page is available. Some well-established endocrine pathways are offered as showcases in the form of predefined result sets. These sets can be used as a starting point for a more complex query or for obtaining a quick overview. The EndoNet database is accessible at http://endonet.bioinf.med.uni-goettingen.de/.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics, University of Göttingen/Medical School, Goldschmidtstrasse 1, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany. anatolij.potapov@bioinf.med.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: Anatolij
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potapov
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liebich
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dönitz
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwarzer
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasse
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoeps
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crass
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wingender
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication; D003196:Computer Graphics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear