156. A Plasmid Manager, a Comprehensive Database for Archiving Plasmid DNA Sequence

A freely available plasmid database that is interoperable with popular freeware (such as a Plasmid Editor, or ApE [1]) has been developed by the Center of Information Technology (CIT) for the NIDA Optogenetics and Transgenic Technology Core (OTTC). As a core facility at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the NIDA OTTC group has accrued a wealth of plasmid DNA data that can no longer be efficiently analyzed without a comprehensive cataloging system. The OTTC Plasmid Manager provides an intuitive plasmid database with analytical and search capabilities, offering a versatile platform for the storage and organization of plasmid sequences and their associated metadata. The database has been designed with informatics and visualization support to enhance the efficiency and analytic capabilities of the user, with a user-friendly interface. Annotations performed in ApE can be imported directly into the database, and unlike most commercially available and free DNA editing software, A Plasmid Manager (APM) also includes a mechanism to standardize the annotations of uploaded sequences, facilitating the direct comparison of multiple plasmids at the feature level. The visualization component generates a graphic representation of the plasmid map together with its features and annotations, allowing the visual comparison of multiple plasmids side-by-side. The contents of the database can be browsed and searched using a variety of criteria, including plasmid name, database accession number and associated features. This innovative plasmid database presents a new platform for molecular biologists to catalog plasmids relevant to their laboratory, saving time and enhancing the analytical capabilities of researchers.