title: PIGD: a database for intronless genes in the Poaceae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intronless genes are a feature of prokaryotes; however, they are widespread and unequally distributed among eukaryotes and represent an important resource to study the evolution of gene architecture. Although many databases on exons and introns exist, there is currently no cohesive database that collects intronless genes in plants into a single database.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we present the Poaceae Intronless Genes Database (PIGD), a user-friendly web interface to explore information on intronless genes from different plants. Five Poaceae species, Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays, Setaria italica, Panicum virgatum and Brachypodium distachyon, are included in the current release of PIGD. Gene annotations and sequence data were collected and integrated from different databases. The primary focus of this study was to provide gene descriptions and gene product records. In addition, functional annotations, subcellular localization prediction and taxonomic distribution are reported. PIGD allows users to readily browse, search and download data. BLAST and comparative analyses are also provided through this online database, which is available at http://pigd.ahau.edu.cn/.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PIGD provides a solid platform for the collection, integration and analysis of intronless genes in the Poaceae. As such, this database will be useful for subsequent bio-computational analysis in comparative genomics and evolutionary studies.
authors.forename: Hanwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Cuiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xiaojian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Crop Biology of Anhui Province, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China. bjchengahau@163.com.
authors.forename: Beijiu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D030541:Databases, Genetic; D017343:Genes, Plant; D007438:Introns; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D064878:Web Browser