dNTPpoolDB: A manually curated database of experimentally determined dNTP pools and pool changes in biological samples

Abstract

Stimulated by the growing interest in the role of dNTP pools in physiological and malignant processes, we established dNTPpoolDB, the database that offers access to quantitative data on dNTP pools from a wide range of species, experimental and developmental conditions (https://dntppool.org/). The database includes measured absolute or relative cellular levels of the four canonical building blocks of DNA and of exotic dNTPs, as well. In addition to the measured quantity, dNTPpoolDB contains ample information on sample source, dNTP quantitation methods and experimental conditions including any treatments and genetic manipulations. Functions such as the advanced search offering multiple choices from custom-built controlled vocabularies in 15 categories in parallel, the pairwise comparison of any chosen pools, and control-treatment correlations provide users with the possibility to quickly recognize and graphically analyse changes in the dNTP pools in function of a chosen parameter. Unbalanced dNTP pools, as well as the balanced accumulation or depletion of all four dNTPs result in genomic instability. Accordingly, key roles of dNTP pool homeostasis have been demonstrated in cancer progression, development, ageing and viral infections among others. dNTPpoolDB is designated to promote research in these fields and fills a longstanding gap in genome metabolism research.