A bologist's resource for plasmids: the DNASU and Protein Structure Initiative:Biology‐Materials repositories (928.1)

Abstract

The Protein Structure Initiative:Biology‐Materials Repository (MR; http://psimr.asu.edu) sequence‐verifies, annotates, stores, and distributes plasmids created by the Protein Structure Initiative (PSI). The DNASU plasmid repository (http://dnasu.org), which houses the MR, distributes over 198,000 plasmids created by our laboratory, by various consortia and by individual laboratories for distributions. This collection includes expression vectors, plasmid containing over 14,000 human genes, and as of November 2013, over 81,000 protein expression plasmids from PSI:Biology Centers. Through our recently redesigned website, researchers can search or browse our collection using our five search options or six new browse features which include an interactive vector browse and a collection browse that displays plasmids annotated by SMART domains. Detailed information about each plasmid such as the full length sequence, vector information, a dynamic vector map, and associated publications can be found directly on the website. Each plasmid also links to external resources, including the PSI Structural Biology Knowledgebase (http://sbkb.org) facilitating cross‐referencing of plasmids to additional protein annotations and experimental data. All plasmids can be requested through DNASU, and our facility ships to researchers worldwide. With the added biological focus in PSI:Biology, the distribution of these materials will help researchers expand the knowledge of the role of proteins both in normal biological processes and in disease.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.