ST. JOSEPH, Mich., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- GeneGo, Inc., a leading provider of databases, software and services in systems biology, announced today that they have received a $750,000 Phase II SBIR grant from the Department of Defense for the development of a systems biology suite for functional analysis of proteomics data. In Phase II, GeneGo will adapt its data-mining platform, MetaCore for handling different types of proteomics data and implement new algorithms for reconstruction of protein-state specific biological networks and pathways.
“Proteomics is a central component of OMICs technologies, as it is the active protein complexes and pathways which carry out most cellular processes,” said Dr. Tatiana Nikolskaya, Chief Scientific Officer and President of GeneGo. “However, proteomics datasets are substantially different from simpler microarray gene expression or DNA sequence data. Each protein has to be considered as a set of condition-specific post-translational modified isoforms and splice variants, each with its own interactions space. In most cases, “small experiment” data is not available for isoform interactions, and this information needs to be extracted from proteomics experiments directly and cross-referenced with other relevant data sources. Based on Phase I results, we will implement these specifics in a novel systems proteomics platform based on MetaCore”.
In the scope of Phase II, GeneGo will work in collaboration with Professor Austin Yang’s group from the University of Southern California, Rosetta Biosystems Inc. and the Michigan Proteome Consortium.
“We are happy to work with GeneGo on systems proteomics”, said Dr. Austin Yang. “One of the major issues facing most proteomics laboratories now is how to establish a proper bioinformatics workflow and how to adequately validate and interpret their proteomic results. Unfortunately like most “omics” analyses, because hundreds or thousands of proteins are examined in a single experiment, it is very difficult to evaluate the biological significance or resolution of any given proteomics analysis. Two years ago, we decided to incorporate GeneGo’s MetaCore into our proteomics data analysis workflow. By integrating the conventional proteomic analysis with a well-annotated network or pathway analysis system such as MetaCore, we are able to quickly and subjectively evaluate our proteomic results with high confidence. For instance, recently, we have used this combination of bioinformatic and mass spectrometic approaches to address the roles of amyloid in altering synaptic signaling pathways in Alzheimer’s disease”.
About GeneGo
GeneGo develops systems biology technology for life science research. The Company’s original computational platform allows an integration and analysis of different kinds of experimental data (mRNA expression, proteomics, metabolites, phenotypic data etc.) and relevant active chemistry (metabolites, drugs, other xenobiotics) within the framework of biological pathways and networks. GeneGo’s first product, MetaCore(TM), assists scientists in the areas of target selection and validation, identification of biomarkers for disease states and toxicology. GeneGo’s second product, MetaDrug(TM), is designed for medicinal chemists and enables prediction of metabolites and their likely toxicity in human. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.genego.com
MetaCore(TM), MetaDrug(TM) and MetaBase(TM) are trademarks of GeneGo, Inc.
GeneGo, Inc.
CONTACT: Contact: Julie Bryant, VP Business Development and Marketing ofGeneGo, Inc., +1-858-756-7996, julie@genego.com
Web site: http://www.genego.com/
