An international team of researchers including UO biologist John Postlethwait has developed a new database that offers a wealth of information on the microRNA of ray-finned fishes.

FishmiRNA fills a gap in resources for scientists studying a range of biological processes in fish species. The self-explanatory database contains detailed, manually curated microRNA annotations and expression data.

MicroRNAs are important regulators of gene expression involved in numerous biological processes and are widely studied in metazoans, animals that have a body composed of cells differentiated into tissues and organs.

In just a few clicks, users can download the annotation and expression database in several formats, either in its entirety or a subset. FishmiRNA was specifically designed for ease of use to reach a wide audience.

The University of Oregon and French National Research Institute are among five partners developing the database, which is funded by the French National Research Agency, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and others.