BACKGROUND: Molecular experiments using multiplex strategies such as cDNA microarrays or proteomic approaches generate large datasets requiring biological interpretation. Text based data mining tools have recently been developed to query large biological datasets of this type of data. PubMatrix is a web-based tool that allows simple text based mining of the NCBI literature search service PubMed using any two lists of keywords terms, resulting in a frequency matrix of term co-occurrence. RESULTS: For example, a simple term selection procedure allows automatic pair-wise comparisons of approximately 1-100 search terms versus approximately 1-10 modifier terms, resulting in up to 1,000 pair wise comparisons. The matrix table of pair-wise comparisons can then be surveyed, queried individually, and archived. Lists of keywords can include any terms currently capable of being searched in PubMed. In the context of cDNA microarray studies, this may be used for the annotation of gene lists from clusters of genes that are expressed coordinately. An associated PubMatrix public archive provides previous searches using common useful lists of keyword terms. CONCLUSIONS: In this way, lists of terms, such as gene names, or functional assignments can be assigned genetic, biological, or clinical relevance in a rapid flexible systematic fashion. http://pubmatrix.grc.nia.nih.gov/

Abstract Summary: The Biological Biochemical Image Database is a WWW accessible relational database of archived images from research articles that describe regulatory pathways of higher eukaryotes. Pathway information is annotated and can be queried in the study of complex gene expression. In this way, complex regulatory pathways can be tested empirically in an efficient manner in the context of large-scale gene-expression systems. Availability: http://bbid.grc.nia.nih.gov Contact: [email protected]