title: G4RNA: an RNA G-quadruplex database.
abstract: G-quadruplexes (G4) are tetrahelical structures formed from planar arrangement of guanines in nucleic acids. A simple, regular motif was originally proposed to describe G4-forming sequences. More recently, however, formation of G4 was discovered to depend, at least in part, on the contextual backdrop of neighboring sequences. Prediction of G4 folding is thus becoming more challenging as G4 outlier structures, not described by the originally proposed motif, are increasingly reported. Recent observations thus call for a comprehensive tool, capable of consolidating the expanding information on tested G4s, in order to conduct systematic comparative analyses of G4-promoting sequences. The G4RNA Database we propose was designed to help meet the need for easily-retrievable data on known RNA G4s. A user-friendly, flexible query system allows for data retrieval on experimentally tested sequences, from many separate genes, to assess G4-folding potential. Query output sorts data according to sequence position, G4 likelihood, experimental outcomes and associated bibliographical references. G4RNA also provides an ideal foundation to collect and store additional sequence and experimental data, considering the growing interest G4s currently generate.
authors.affiliation: RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Pavillon de recherche appliquée sur le cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garant
authors.affiliation: RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Pavillon de recherche appliquée sur le cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada.
authors.forename: Mikael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Luce
authors.affiliation: RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Pavillon de recherche appliquée sur le cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada Michelle.Scott@usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Pavillon de recherche appliquée sur le cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada Michelle.Scott@usherbrooke.ca Jean-Pierre.Perreault@usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perreault
mesh_terms: D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D059372:Nucleotide Motifs; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012313:RNA