Genome prospecting uses a query sequence (DNA or protein of up to 10,000 base pairs/amino acids) to find related sequences in specific genomes or in a database. A major purpose of genome prospecting is to identify members of gene or transposon families. DNA Subway uses the TARGeT workflow, which integrates BLAST searches, multiple sequence alignments, and tree-drawing utilities. Yellow line uses TARGeT (Tree Analysis of Related Genes and Transposons) uses either a DNA or amino acid ‘seed’ query to: (i) automatically identify and retrieve gene family homologs from a genomic database, (ii) characterize gene structure and (iii) perform phylogenetic analysis. Due to its high speed, TARGeT is also able to characterize very large gene families, including transposable elements (TEs). [citation]
Some things to remember about the platform
- Yellow Line will return sequences that would normally be excluded from a BLAST search of a genome (e.g. repetitive sequences, transposons).
- Yellow Line is implemented only for plant genomes
Log-in to DNA Subway - unregistered users may 'Enter as Guest'
Click ‘Prospect Genomes using TARGeT’ (Yellow Square)
Select a sample sequence, or paste in a sequence to search for.
Note
DNA Subway Yellow Line is only implemented to search a limited set of plant genomes.
Provide your project with a title, then Click ‘Continue’
Example Exercise - Project Creation: mPing Mite element to search plant genomes for an active transposon
The mPing MITE element is an example of an active transposon in rice. Transposons are a major class of DNA elements that impact the function of the genome.
- Create a Yellow Line project following the steps above and using the mPing Mite Element (Oryza sativa/Rice)
- Click and select the genome(s) you wish to search and the click; 'Run' to search those genomes.
- Click the 'Alignment Viewer' button to view the results of the search as a multiple alignment.
- Click the 'Tree Viewer' button to view a tree that will group results by similarity.
Tip
Alignment Viewer Generates an alignment of all search results
Tree Viewer Displays the results of sequence matches as a tree, grouped by sequence similarity
Tip
Some Useful Definitions - Transposons (DNA, Retroviral, LINES): Genetic elements which have the ability to be amplified and redistributed within a genome. - Non-autonomous transposons: Transposons which lack an active transposase gene, thus requiring help from another transposon to move. - Autonomous transposons: Transposons which have a functional transposase and can move within the genome.
- After loading the mPing Mite Element as the query, search the Oryza Sativa genome, and examine the results in the Alignment and Tree Viewers.
- Repeat this analysis with a new project using the Ping transposase gene and the Ping Transposase protein.
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