GAP: Genomics Annotation Platform

65559 The human genome project, as well as other major sequencing efforts, will have a major impact on modern medicine only if the genetic information encoded within the DNA sequences is deciphered. Therefore, functions must be assigned to the sequenced genes, which is the goal of functional genomics. Computational approaches can accelerate dramatically such annotation efforts by producing predictive functions that then can be rapidly confirmed. This project will build a genomics annotation platform (GAP) that applies state-of-the-art computer-based comparative genomics and structural genomics technologies in order to extract predictive gene function and protein-protein interaction from sequence and structure databases. Phase I developed all of the computational tools essential to the functionality of the system, and GAP can already be used to reproduce published comparative genomics and structural genomics annotations or to assign putative function to unknown genes. Phase II will have three main objectives: (1) optimize existing tools and benchmark them against working test-sets; (2) integrate the already implemented annotation strategies into a seamless research environment and develop an efficient graphical user interface; and (3) set up a system for automatic updates to GAP following the growth of genomic databases, and package the system into a commercial software product. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The GAP should be a powerful, stand-alone, computational genomics product that can be deployed in-house by licensees, and maintained and updated for a service fee.