GED: A manually curated comprehensive resource for epigenetic modification of gametogenesis

Abstract

Reproductive infertility affects seventh of couples, which ismost attributed to the obstacle of gametogenesis. Characterizing the epigeneticmodification factors involved in gametogenesis is fundamental to understand themolecularmechanisms and to develop treatments for human infertility. Although the genetic factors have been implicated in gametogenesis, no dedicated bioinformatics resource for gametogenesis is available. To elucidate the relationship of epigeneticmodification andmammalian gametogenesis, we developed a new database, gametogenesis epigeneticmodification database (GED), amanually curated database, which aims at providing a comprehensive resource of epigeneticmodification of gametogenesis. The database integrates three kinds information of epigeneticmodifications during gametogenesis (DNAmethylation, histonemodification and RNA regulation), and the gametogenesis has been detailed as 16 stages in sevenmammal species (Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Sus scrofa, Bos taurus, Capra hircus and Ovis aries). Besides, we have predicted the linear pathways of epigenetic modification which were composed of 211 genes/proteins andmicroRNAs that were involved in gametogenesis. GED is a userfriendlyWeb site, through which users can obtain the comprehensive epigenetic factor information andmolecular pathways by visiting our database freely. GED is free available at http://gametsepi.nwsuaflmz.com.