Otago Database Internationally Recognised

Otago Magazine, February 2005

A unique University of Otago database containing vital information on the genetic code of 40,000 species has been recommended to researchers worldwide by the prestigious Science journal.

This database, TransTerm, was developed in 1990 by Dr Chris Brown, Dr Peter Stockwell and Professor Warren Tate of Biochemistry to test part of the genetic code for RNA signals specifying “stop protein synthesis”. RNA is copied from DNA and regulates activities within the cell.

TransTerm soon proved this initial genetic code was more complex than originally thought and was further developed as a resource to discover new signals in RNA.

“The amount of genetic information known is roughly doubling each year so it is a neverending task updating TransTerm,” Brown says.

It is available to anyone around the world via the internet and is useful for a researcher who perhaps wants to compare the whole genetic make-up of different species while searching for similarities.

“Otago Biochemistry researchers are now using the database to understand the HIV and Hepatitis B and C viruses,” Tate says. “TransTerm searches for similar patterns in the code of the viruses so the function of each pattern can be determined. It is hoped that these patterns can then be targeted by specific drugs to prevent further spread of the viruses.

“Similarly, it may be possible to develop drugs which destroy a particular pattern of genetic code to inhibit the virus in some way.”

The TransTerm team has now expanded to include Dr Grant Jacobs of Bioinfotools.