RetrogeneDB - A database of animal retrogenes

Abstract

Retrocopies of protein-coding genes, reverse transcribed and inserted into the genome copies of mature RNA, have commonly been categorized as pseudogenes with no biological importance. However, recent studies showed that they play important role in the genomes evolution and shaping interspecies differences. Here, we present RetrogeneDB, a database of retrocopies in 62 animal genomes. RetrogeneDB contains information about retrocopies, their genomic localization, parental genes, ORF conservation, and expression. To our best knowledge, this is the most complete retrocopies database providing information for dozens of species previously never analyzed in the context of protein-coding genes retroposition. © The Author 2014.