GeneSetDB: A comprehensive meta-database, statistical and visualisation framework for gene set analysis

Most “omics” experiments require comprehensive interpretation of the biological meaning of gene lists. To address this requirement, a number of gene set analysis (GSA) tools have been developed. Although the biological value of GSA is strictly limited by the breadth of the gene sets used, very few methods exist for simultaneously analysing multiple publically available gene set databases. Therefore, we constructed GeneSetDB (http://genesetdb.auckland.ac.nz/haeremai.html), a comprehensive meta-database, which integrates 26 public databases containing diverse biological information with a particular focus on human disease and pharmacology. GeneSetDB enables users to search for gene sets containing a gene identifier or keyword, generate their own gene sets, or statistically test for enrichment of an uploaded gene list across all gene sets, and visualise gene set enrichment and overlap using a clustered heat map.

▸ Gene Set Analysis (GSA) can reveal biological meaning from “omics” experiments. ▸ It is currently difficult to apply GSA to the range of available gene set databases. ▸ We constructed GeneSetDB, a comprehensive meta-database for gene set analysis. ▸ GeneSetDB integrates 26 databases containing different types of information. ▸ GeneSetDB lets biologists visualise the gene sets represented in their “omics” results.