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Olga Vassieva

Publications and source records attributed to Olga Vassieva.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The National Microbial Pathogen Database Resource (NMPDR): a genomics platform based on subsystem annotation.

The National Microbial Pathogen Data Resource (NMPDR) (http://www.nmpdr.org) is a National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease (NIAID)-funded Bioinformatics Resource Center that supports research in selected Category B pathogens. NMPDR contains the complete genomes of approximately 50 strains of pathogenic bacteria that are the focus of our curators, as well as >400 other genomes that provide a broad context for comparative analysis across the three phylogenetic Domains. NMPDR integrates complete, public genomes with expertly curated biological subsystems to provide the most consistent genome annotations. Subsystems are sets of functional roles related by a biologically meaningful organizing principle, which are built over large collections of genomes; they provide researchers with consistent functional assignments in a biologically structured context. Investigators can browse subsystems and reactions to develop accurate reconstructions of the metabolic networks of any sequenced organism. NMPDR provides a comprehensive bioinformatics platform, with tools and viewers for genome analysis. Results of precomputed gene clustering analyses can be retrieved in tabular or graphic format with one-click tools. NMPDR tools include Signature Genes, which finds the set of genes in common or that differentiates two groups of organisms. Essentiality data collated from genome-wide studies have been curated. Drug target identification and high-throughput, in silico, compound screening are in development.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2005

The subsystems approach to genome annotation and its use in the project to annotate 1000 genomes.

The release of the 1000th complete microbial genome will occur in the next two to three years. In anticipation of this milestone, the Fellowship for Interpretation of Genomes (FIG) launched the Project to Annotate 1000 Genomes. The project is built around the principle that the key to improved accuracy in high-throughput annotation technology is to have experts annotate single subsystems over the complete collection of genomes, rather than having an annotation expert attempt to annotate all of the genes in a single genome. Using the subsystems approach, all of the genes implementing the subsystem are analyzed by an expert in that subsystem. An annotation environment was created where populated subsystems are curated and projected to new genomes. A portable notion of a populated subsystem was defined, and tools developed for exchanging and curating these objects. Tools were also developed to resolve conflicts between populated subsystems. The SEED is the first annotation environment that supports this model of annotation. Here, we describe the subsystem approach, and offer the first release of our growing library of populated subsystems. The initial release of data includes 180 177 distinct proteins with 2133 distinct functional roles. This data comes from 173 subsystems and 383 different organisms.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed2005

Relationship between hepatic phenotype and changes in gene expression in cytochrome P450 reductase (POR) null mice.

Cytochrome P450 reductase is the unique electron donor for microsomal cytochrome P450s; these enzymes play a major role in the metabolism of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. In mice with a liver-specific deletion of cytochrome P450 reductase, hepatic cytochrome P450 activity is ablated, with consequent changes in bile acid and lipid homoeostasis. In order to gain insights into the metabolic changes resulting from this phenotype, we have analysed changes in hepatic mRNA expression using microarray analysis and real-time PCR. In parallel with the perturbations in bile acid levels, changes in the expression of key enzymes involved in cholesterol and lipid homoeostasis were observed in hepatic cytochrome P450 reductase null mice. This was characterized by a reduced expression of Cyp7b1, and elevation of Cyp7a1 and Cyp8b1 expression. The levels of mRNAs for other cytochrome P450 genes, including Cyp2b10, Cyp2c29, Cyp3a11 and Cyp3a16, were increased, demonstrating that endogenous factors play a role in regulating the expression of these proteins and that the increases are due, at least in part, to altered levels of transcripts. In addition, levels of mRNAs encoding genes involved in glycolysis and lipid transport were also increased; the latter may provide an explanation for the increased hepatic lipid content observed in the hepatic null mice. Serum testosterone and oestradiol levels were lowered, accompanied by significantly decreased expression of Hsd3b2 (3beta-hydroxy-Delta5-steroid dehydrogenase-2), Hsd3b5 (3beta-hydroxy-Delta5-steroid dehydrogenase-5) and Hsd11b1 (11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1), key enzymes in steroid hormone metabolism. These microarray data provide important insights into the control of metabolic pathways by the cytochrome system.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Bioinformatics classification and functional analysis of PhoH homologs.

PhoH protein is a putative ATPase belonging to the phosphate regulon in Escherichia coli. EC-PhoH homologs are present in different organisms, but it is not clear if they are functionally related, besides nothing is known about their regulation. To distinguish true functional orthologs of EC-PhoH in different classes of bacteria and to identify their functional role in bacterial metabolic network we performed phylogenetic analysis of these proteins and comparative study of position and regulation of the related genes. Three groups of proteins were identified. Proteins of the first group (BS-PhoH orthologs) are present in most of bacteria and are proposed to be functionally linked to phospholipid metabolism and RNA modification. Proteins of the second group (BS-YlaK orthologs) are present in most of aerobes and Actinobacterial YlaK orthologs are shown to be members of a fatty acid beta-oxidation regulons. EC-PhoH orthologs are classified in a third group, specific for Enterobacteria. Functional role of PhoH homologs in the lipid and RNA metabolism and proposed interrelation of PhoH paralogs in one organism are discussed.

Bacteria↗