DIANA-microT web server v5.0: service integration into miRNA functional analysis workflows

Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Jul;41(Web Server issue):W169-73. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt393. Epub 2013 May 16.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNA molecules that regulate gene expression through mRNA degradation and/or translation repression, affecting many biological processes. DIANA-microT web server (http://www.microrna.gr/webServer) is dedicated to miRNA target prediction/functional analysis, and it is being widely used from the scientific community, since its initial launch in 2009. DIANA-microT v5.0, the new version of the microT server, has been significantly enhanced with an improved target prediction algorithm, DIANA-microT-CDS. It has been updated to incorporate miRBase version 18 and Ensembl version 69. The in silico-predicted miRNA-gene interactions in Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans exceed 11 million in total. The web server was completely redesigned, to host a series of sophisticated workflows, which can be used directly from the on-line web interface, enabling users without the necessary bioinformatics infrastructure to perform advanced multi-step functional miRNA analyses. For instance, one available pipeline performs miRNA target prediction using different thresholds and meta-analysis statistics, followed by pathway enrichment analysis. DIANA-microT web server v5.0 also supports a complete integration with the Taverna Workflow Management System (WMS), using the in-house developed DIANA-Taverna Plug-in. This plug-in provides ready-to-use modules for miRNA target prediction and functional analysis, which can be used to form advanced high-throughput analysis pipelines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Software*
  • Systems Integration
  • Workflow

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger