EPO-KB: A searchable knowledge base of biomarker to protein links

Abstract

The knowledge base EPO-KB (Empirical Proteomic Ontology Knowledge Base) is based on an OWL ontology that represents current knowledge linking mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios to proteins on multiple platforms including Matrix Assisted Laser/Desorption Ionization (MALDI) and Surface Enhanced Laser/Desorption Ionization (SELDI) - Time of Flight (TOF). At present, it contains information on m/z ratio to protein links that were extracted from 120 published research papers. It has a web interface that allows researchers to query and retrieve putative proteins that correspond to a user-specified m/z ratio. EPO-KB also allows automated entry of additional m/z ratio to protein links and is expandable to the addition of gene to protein and protein to disease links. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.