Evolution of multiple alignments

Genomics and proteomics technologies have led to a
paradigm shift in bioinformatics, where the
traditional reductionist approach is replaced by a
more global, integrated view. In this context,
multiple sequence alignments provide an ideal
environment for the reliable integration of
information from a complete genome to a gene and its
related products. In this work, the sequence analysis
field is reviewed and three example developments are
described: (i) a benchmark for the objective
evaluation of multiple alignment algorithms, (ii) a
multiple alignment ontology (MAO) for nucleic acid or
protein sequences and structures, (iii) an
information management system (MACSIMS) that exploits
the multiple alignment and the organisation provided
by the ontology. The work is central to
bioinformatics today and should be particularly
useful to researchers working in various fields, such
as genome analysis, target characterisation for
structural proteomics, the study of human genetic
pathologies, or the development of new drug discovery
strategies.

Autorentext

Dr. Thompson is a bioinformatics researcher at the NationalCentre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France. She received herBSc degree in Mathematics at Sheffield University, UK and her PhDat the Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France.

Klappentext

Genomics and proteomics technologies have led to aparadigm shift in bioinformatics, where thetraditional reductionist approach is replaced by amore global, integrated view. In this context,multiple sequence alignments provide an idealenvironment for the reliable integration ofinformation from a complete genome to a gene and itsrelated products. In this work, the sequence analysisfield is reviewed and three example developments aredescribed: (i) a benchmark for the objectiveevaluation of multiple alignment algorithms, (ii) amultiple alignment ontology (MAO) for nucleic acid orprotein sequences and structures, (iii) aninformation management system (MACSIMS) that exploitsthe multiple alignment and the organisation providedby the ontology. The work is central tobioinformatics today and should be particularlyuseful to researchers working in various fields, suchas genome analysis, target characterisation forstructural proteomics, the study of human geneticpathologies, or the development of new drug discoverystrategies.