Pro54DB: a database for experimentally verified sigma-54 promoters

In prokaryotes, the sigma(54) promoters are unique regulatory elements and have attracted much attention because they are in charge of the transcription of carbon and nitrogen-related genes and participate in numerous ancillary processes and environmental responses. All findings on sigma(54) promoters are favorable for a better understanding of their regulatory mechanisms in gene transcription and an accurate discovery of genes missed by the wet experimental evidences. In order to provide an up-to-date, interactive and extensible database for sigma(54) promoter, a free and easy accessed database called Pro54DB (sigma(54) promoter database) was built to collect information of sigma(54) promoter. In the current version, it has stored 210 experimental-confirmed sigma(54) promoters with 297 regulated genes in 43 species manually extracted from 133 publications, which is helpful for researchers in fields of bioinformatics and molecular biology.