Background

Microsatellites, also called as simple sequence repeats (SSRs) or simple tandem repeats (STRs) are ubiquitous component of eukaryotic genomes. A microsatellite consists of a specific sequence of DNA which contains 1–6 bp long (mono- to hexa- nucleotide) tandem repeats viz. (A)16, (GA)20, (GATA)30. Over the years, molecular biologists have increasingly exploited these sequences for diverse applications.

With the whole genome sequencing initiatives of various eukaryotic organisms, large amount of genomic sequence data has accumulated over the last few years. These sequence resources available in the public domain have also served as an attractive source of in silico mining of microsatellite sequences [1–5]. In silico mining of these sequences offers advantage in terms of time, labour and cost over conventional isolation from genomic libraries. Similarly, ESTs have also been screened for the presence of microsatellites [6–8]. However, finding potentially useful microsatellites occupying specific genomic regions still remains a challenge for the molecular biologists. Availability of this information can facilitate molecular mapping of desired traits and preparation of linkage maps saturated with evenly distributed SSR markers.

Popularity of in silico mining methods has led to the construction of various microsatellite databases in recent years, each with a different emphasis. For instance, MICdb [9] provides information on microsatellites spanning coding and non-coding regions, their frequency, size and repeat sequence. A recent version of this database covers 19 archeal, 155 eubacterial and 287 viral genomes. SilkSatDb [10] incorporates microsatellites extracted from the available ESTs and genomic sequences of the silkmoth (Bombyx mori). This database also stores data on polymorphism status of different microsatellite loci. Similarly, mouse genomic microsatellites are collected in the Mouse Microsatellite Database of Japan (MMDBJ) [11]. CMD (Cotton Microsatellite Database) is a web-based relational database providing centralized access to publicly available cotton microsatellites. The database also provides a useful resource for mapping and related data pertaining to major cotton microsatellite projects [12]. Satellog [13] database catalogues triplet repeats associated with human disorders. Similarly Microsat2006 [14] database catalogues human microsatellite repeats. Taiwanese Polymorphic Microsatellite Database (TPMD) provides data on microsatellite mapping in the Taiwanese populations [15]. Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Westmead, Australia has created an SSR database [16] that stores information on microsatellite repeats in nine fungal genomes. InSatDb [17] provides size, type (perfect and compound) and location (intron, exon, upstream or transposons) of microsatellites in five insect genomes. Some other databases [18, 19], although published earlier are currently inaccessible. In conclusion, existing microsatellite databases either are very specific in their content and application or have limited utility to a wider audience. Thus, a collection of whole genome eukaryotic microsatellite data at a single platform is still not available. Recognizing this gap, we have developed a comprehensive database for easy retrieval of information on microsatellites distributed in the sequenced eukaryotic genomes. The database named as EuMicroSatdb (Eu karyotic MicroSat ellite d atab ase) presents a web-based user friendly interface for the extraction of both simple and compound microsatellites from 31 eukaryotic genomes assembled as chromosomes. Important features of this database are compared with those of existing databases in Table 1.

Table 1 Comparison of various microsatellite databases, available in the public domain
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Construction and Content

EuMicroSatdb is a platform independent relational database. The basic scheme followed for the development of EuMicroSatdb involved following steps: (1) whole genome sequences were downloaded from various sources like Ensembl [20], The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) [21], Genolevures 2 [22], International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) [23], Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) [24], The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) [25] (Table 2) and scanned using a simple sequence repeat mining tool called MISA [26]; (2) filtering and restructuring of the required data using novel algorithms, VRFINE (creates "rfine" file that has sequence information of microsatellites) and VRSTRUCT (uses "rfine" file and processes it to make three separate files for repeat number, repeat motif and repeat unit length); (3) extraction of 200 bp upstream and downstream flanking sequences using a C++ program called VEXTRACT that creates two separate files, one each for upstream and downstream sequences; (4) microsatellite clustering information was generated using a Perl based script VCLUST, and (5) all the data generated by above algorithms were reassembled into a data file using another Perl based script VDATA_ASSEMBL. This file was then imported in MS-ACCESS as a table. The overall scheme of database construction is explained in figure 1. Sub-databases were constructed for individual genomes by importing all data files as tables, each representing one chromosome. Finally, an Index-database was created that communicates with these sub-databases. Front end web interface was developed using ASP that communicates with the Index database for data retrieval. The overall architecture of the database is outlined in figure 2.

Table 2 Details of genomes included in EuMicroSatdb
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Figure 1
figure 1

Construction scheme of EuMicroSat db. Figure describing methodology used for preparation of backend (codes used in the preparation of files in the database) and front end (the web interface of the database).

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Figure 2
figure 2

Architecture of EuMicroSat db. Scheme of EuMicroSatdb describing the outline of the database.

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Utility and Discussion

The EuMicroSatdb allows mining of different microsatellites along with their physical location on chromosomes in completely/almost completely sequenced eukaryotic genomes. At present, the database has over 10 million entries of microsatellites covering 31 genomes (Table 2). More genomes will be included in the database as and when their whole genome sequences are published and made available in the public domain.

User can search for perfect repeats, compound (perfect) repeats and microsatellite clusters. EuMicroSatdb database can be searched using following need based input parameters: Repeat unit length: the basic unit that is tandemly repeated in the microsatellite ranging from mononucleotide to hexanucleotide; Repeat sequence: this parameter allows the user to search microsatellite for a specific base sequence, for example, AT, GCG, etc.; Repeat number: is used to search microsatellites on the basis of repeat number of the microsatellite e.g. (CCT)9 has a repeat number of 9, (AGAGG)10 has a repeat number of 10; Microsatellite length: searches microsatellites on the basis of their total length in base pairs e.g. (TTGCA)5 has a length of 25 bp; Position: defined locations on the chromosome in terms of base pairs can be specified; Microsatellite cluster: search can also be performed to look for adjacent microsatellites. Further, if the user wants to design primers for PCR amplification of the desired microsatellite locus, the database also provides 200 bp upstream and downstream regions of all the microsatellite loci. The search options are further explained with the help of some case studies given in a power point tutorial available on the database website. Figure 3 displays the user interface for searching microsatellites by using one or more of the above-mentioned basic parameters.

Figure 3
figure 3

Web interface for simple microsatellite searching. Web interface showing (A) various input parameters used for simple microsatellite based search, (B) output of the query, and (C) 200 bp upstream/downstream sequences for a particular microsatellite.

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The unique feature of this database is the extraction of both simple and compound microsatellites. Compound repeats can be searched by specifying motifs desired in the combination. For example, if a user wants to search for a compound microsatellite from chromosome 1 of Homo sapiens which is more than 100 bp in length, has a TTTC-TC-TTTC repeat combination with the fourth association being a dinucleotide repeat, with repeat number greater than 10 for TTTC and TC, search can be made by using the parameters specified in figure 4A. The output of this query is shown in figure 4B.

Figure 4
figure 4

Web interface for searching compound microsatellite. Web interface showing (A) various input parameters used for searching compound microsatellite, and (B) output of the query.

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User can identify the genomic regions showing high microsatellite density to study microsatellite clustering in the genome [27] by defining the size of interruption between neighbouring microsatellites as explained in the database tutorial.

EuMicroSatdb is likely to be adopted as a useful tool to study the relative occurrence and distribution of microsatellites across eukaryotic genomes. The information may have diverse applications. The user can extract the position of the microsatellite on the chromosome and thus can link it with the gene co-ordinates, which are available on various public domains. In this way, microsatellites located in the vicinity of genes may be identified. These microsatellites will hopefully prove to be more useful for gene tagging and to investigate the role of microsatellites in gene regulation. Similarly, microsatellites spanning desired genomic regions can be selected and used for further saturation of existing molecular maps. Since microsatellite show varying levels of cross amplification among related genomes, microsatellites from the genomes included in the present database can be exploited for developing markers in the related species where sufficient STMS markers are still not available. The compound microsatellites being hypervariable can prove to be a potential source of highly polymorphic markers.

Incorporation of multiple sub-databases in EuMicroSatdb ensures faster exchange of information and unlimited expansion of the database. The database will be upgraded regularly as and when draft assemblies are updated and new genomes are sequenced. EuMicroSatdb is compatible with multi-user environment. The efficiency of data retrieval is maintained during simultaneous access by many users.

Conclusion

EuMicrosatdb has been developed for genome wide mining of microsatellite in 31 completely sequenced eukaryotic genomes considering the immense utility of these sequences for a variety of experiments. Various parameters have been carefully inducted to allow comprehensive search of simple and compound microsatellites and to identify microsatellite clusters across the genomes. Links to retrieve flanking sequences (200 bp upstream and downstream) are provided to design primers for PCR amplification of desired motifs. EuMicroSatdb will provide a useful resource for mining microsatellites to be used in gene tagging, comparative genomics and genetic diversity based studies in different genomes

Availability and requirements

EuMicroSatdb is a platform independent relational database publicly available at http://ipu.ac.in/usbt/EuMicroSatdb.htm