The long-term research goal of our laboratory is to utilize bioinformatic tools/databases in elucidating molecular and cellular aspects of functional transcription elements in human genome and their significance in oncogenesis and tumor progression. These functional transcription elements include traditional protein-coding genes and non-coding ones. Our research efforts are intended to elucidate functions and regulations of these transcription elements using bioinformatics data-mining and molecular experimental approaches. Previously, we have used the dbEST database for the discovery of novel human genes, identification of functional nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs and InDels). Subsequently, we further discover and interrogate a new wobble-splicing mechanism at exon junctions that results in the generation of InDel variants in protein coding transcripts. In order to interrogate the functional aspects of these elements, we have developed gene oriented ortholog assignment and protein domain ortholog classification algorithms and databases. We have also emphasized on the discovery of non-coding regulatory microRNAs. Informatic pipelines are employed to discover and interrogate miRNAs from genomic sequences of viruses, parasites and animals. We have also engaged in the regulation features of human miRNAs in oncogenesis and their cancer biomarker potential in liquid biopsy. There are several bioinformatic databases established in our laboratory:
Virus miRNAs & target prediction service
miRNA clusters
Conserved miRNAs in animal genomes
Protein ortholog discovery by comparative gene identification
Protein ortholog interrogation by domain features
Protein ortholog annotation by genomic loci
Duplicated gene loci variants
Transcript isoforms in human protein-coding genes
Representative Tissue Transcripts of Protein-coding Genes
microRNA Target Visualization Tool for TCGA cancers
Tissue Expression Profiles of MANE-select Transcripts
Our Team