iBeetle-Base: a database for RNAi phenotypes in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum.
The iBeetle-Base (http://ibeetle-base.uni-goettingen.de) makes available annotations of RNAi phenotypes, which were gathered in a large scale RNAi screen in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (iBeetle screen). In addition, it provides access to sequence information and links for all Tribolium castaneum genes. The iBeetle-Base contains the annotations of phenotypes of several thousands of genes knocked down during embryonic and metamorphic epidermis and muscle development in addition to phenotypes linked to oogenesis and stink gland biology. The phenotypes are described according to the EQM (entity, quality, modifier) system using controlled vocabularies and the Tribolium morphological ontology (TrOn). Furthermore, images linked to the respective annotations are provided. The data are searchable either for specific phenotypes using a complex 'search for morphological defects' or a 'quick search' for gene names and IDs. The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum has become an important model system for insect functional genetics and is a representative of the most species rich taxon, the Coleoptera, which comprise several devastating pests. It is used for studying insect typical development, the evolution of development and for research on metabolism and pest control. Besides Drosophila, Tribolium is the first insect model organism where large scale unbiased screens have been performed.
Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, GZMB, Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany contact@ibeetle-base.uni-goettingen.de.
Jürgen
J
Dönitz
Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, GZMB, Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Christian
C
Schmitt-Engel
Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, GZMB, Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Daniela
D
Grossmann
Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.
Lizzy
L
Gerischer
Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Bioinformatics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
Maike
M
Tech
Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Michael
M
Schoppmeier
Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Martin
M
Klingler
Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, GZMB, Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Gregor
G
Bucher
D000818:Animals; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D005260:Female; D017344:Genes, Insect; D020407:Internet; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference; D014231:Tribolium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D014584:User-Computer Interface