IMAGE cDNA clones, UniGene clustering, and ACeDB: an integrated resource for expressed sequence information.

In this study we describe a new information resource that provides integrated access to information on IMAGE (integrated molecular analysis of genomes and their expression) cDNA library clones and derived expressed sequence tags (ESTs). We have developed an automated procedure that collates data from various public sources into a single ACeDB database. This database is a valuable tool for electronic cloning experiments and gene expression studies. It allows researchers to find information about cDNA libraries, plate addresses, insert sizes, and sequence data for IMAGE clones, the assignment of ESTs to UniGene clusters, and the chromosomal location of those genes in an efficient, graphically oriented manner.