MAPLE Enables Functional Assessment of Microbiota in Various Environments

Abstract

A main goal of metagenomic analysis is to elucidate comprehensive functions (i.e., the functionome) of entire communities across various environments, but only PCR amplicon analysis of 16S rDNA has been performed in most metagenomic projects so far. One reason for this is that a standard evaluation method for discerning the functional potentials harbored within genomes or metagenomes has not yet been established. To break this deadlock, a new method was developed to infer the potential functionome based on the completion ratio of the individual Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional modules. A prototype system of the MAPLE (Metabolic And Physiological potentiaL Evaluator) to automate all processes used in this new method was then launched in December 2013. The MAPLE system was further improved to increase its usability, and the latest version, MAPLE 2.3.1, is now available through a web interface (https://maple.jamstec.go.jp/maple/maple-2.3.1/).