Announcement and Update: Lectin DataBase

[Christian Frosch]

Dear Lectinologists,

please excuse the long delay in sending out a followup
message to our announcement of the Lectin DataBase (LDB)
project. 
Meanwhile we have set up a web page and two mailing lists. 

ldb at gnacademy.org
ldb-announce at gnacademy.org

The main web page for the project is
http://www-de.gnacademy.org/ldb/welcome.html

We are now actively gathering entries for the LDB
which should be sent in the following format.
!!!
 lectin name:
abbreviations:
PDB entry code:
sequence (code?):
source organism:   and tissue:
specificity:
inhibitory mono-and oligo-saccharides:
requirements for binding,
       e.g. buffer composition:
             and pH:
              metal ions:
               etc.:,
non-sugar inhibitors:
commercial suppliers:
references for properties:
                      purification:
                     specificity:
                      etc.:
!!!

You can find a summary of the project below (##).

Sincerely,

Christian Frosch

+++
Christian Frosch
The Glycoscience Network
Assistant Co-ordinator
E-mail: frosc000 at mail.uni-mainz.de


##

The Lectins Database Project (LDB)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Coordinators: Lisa Wright, Ofer Markman, David Ashford


The Lectins Database (LDB) is a database of information concerning
lectins. It is planned to be freely available over the Internet, as an
information resource for both dedicated lectinologists and casual
lectin-users. It will be complementary to, and interlinked with, the new
3D lectin database. 

The LDB has the support of the Virtual Institute of Wet Biology (VIWB) 
<http://emile-21.com/viwb/welcome.htm> and the Glycoscience Network (TGN;
see above). The former is dedicated to helping real experimental biology
projects through bioinformatics and Internet technology. 

The first stage of the LDB will be to form a database on lectin data,
including:- 
  lectin name and abbreviations
  PDB entry code and sequence 
  source organism and tissue
  specificity
  inhibitory mono- and oligosaccharides
  requirements for binding e.g. buffer composition and pH
  commercial suppliers
  references

The LDB team involves people with extensive glycobiology and Internet
background from academia and industry. It is supported by extensive
technical support from the VIWB and the TGN.