ReplicationDomain: a visualization tool and comparative database for genome-wide replication timing data.
BACKGROUND
Eukaryotic DNA replication is regulated at the level of large chromosomal domains (0.5-5 megabases in mammals) within which replicons are activated relatively synchronously. These domains replicate in a specific temporal order during S-phase and our genome-wide analyses of replication timing have demonstrated that this temporal order of domain replication is a stable property of specific cell types.


RESULTS
We have developed ReplicationDomain http://www.replicationdomain.org as a web-based database for analysis of genome-wide replication timing maps (replication profiles) from various cell lines and species. This database also provides comparative information of transcriptional expression and is configured to display any genome-wide property (for instance, ChIP-Chip or ChIP-Seq data) via an interactive web interface. Our published microarray data sets are publicly available. Users may graphically display these data sets for a selected genomic region and download the data displayed as text files, or alternatively, download complete genome-wide data sets. Furthermore, we have implemented a user registration system that allows registered users to upload their own data sets. Upon uploading, registered users may choose to: (1) view their data sets privately without sharing; (2) share with other registered users; or (3) make their published or "in press" data sets publicly available, which can fulfill journal and funding agencies' requirements for data sharing.


CONCLUSIONS
ReplicationDomain is a novel and powerful tool to facilitate the comparative visualization of replication timing in various cell types as well as other genome-wide chromatin features and is considerably faster and more convenient than existing browsers when viewing multi-megabase segments of chromosomes. Furthermore, the data upload function with the option of private viewing or sharing of data sets between registered users should be a valuable resource for the scientific community.
Weddington
Nodin
N
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA. weddington@bio.fsu.edu
Stuy
Alexander
A
Hiratani
Ichiro
I
Ryba
Tyrone
T
Yokochi
Tomoki
T
Gilbert
David M
DM
D003196:Computer Graphics; D004261:DNA Replication; D003628:Database Management Systems; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D016678:Genome; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface