BMC Genomics 2006, 7:116 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/7/116 TFrigaunsrceri7ption factor binding sites contained in a gene set Transcription factor binding sites contained in a gene set. Tabular account of known transcription factor binding sites of any length found within the putative promoter regions of the prophenoloxidase case study gene set. Each factor is indicated (factor name), along with the number of genes in which it is found (#genes), its frequency (%set) within the current gene set as compared to its frequency (%prom) within all promoter regions in the An. gambiae genome, and the difference between the latter two (fold+/-). The transcript identifiers containing each transcription factor binding site are indicated last (genes). Fif- teen of the 287 binding sites found in the case study comparison are shown in this abbreviated figure. in Figure 11 to aid users in choosing parameters that are most appropriate for their particular investigation. Conclusion While existing databases may allow individualized search- ing by expression, keyword, or sequence criteria, it is the unification of these fields that makes angaGEDUCI a unique facilitator of experimental design. The database may be used in many different ways, but perhaps most useful is the ability to use the stage- and tissue-specific expression microarray data to identify genes that are expressed in spatial and temporal patterns of interest and then compare the promoter regions of such genes to investigate putative means of facilitating such expression. The experimentally validated utility of such applications may pave the way for similar investigations into the regu- latory role of conserved DNA sequence motifs in other control regions within the genome, such as putative microRNA target sites that may be found in 3' UTRs. In addition to its current microarray data based on genome-wide tissue- and stage-specific gene expression, angaGEDUCI has been built with the goal of expanding its scope to house, integrate, and display additional microarray studies of An. gambiae. For example, Affyme- trix microarray data from a study investigating gene expression in An. gambiae following infection with Plas- modium falciparum can be integrated with the existing data in the database to produce a clearer picture of how the mosquito responds to parasite challenge at the transcrip- tional level. This flexibility assures that angaGEDUCI is capable of growing alongside the increasing quantity of data being produced from other studies. By working closely with Vectorbase and other laboratories in this way, it is hoped that angaGEDUCI will act as a catalyst in accel- erating the study and understanding of gene expression and regulation in this important and devastating vector of disease. Availability and requirements The Anopheles gambiae Gene Expression Database at UCI is publicly accessible from the URL: http:// www.angaged.bio.uci.edu. Questions and comments are welcomed through the site. Authors' contributions SND designed and implemented the website, database, and promoter analysis algorithms and wrote the principal Page 7 of 11 (page number not for citation purposes)