UniCarbKB: putting the pieces together for glycomics research

Abstract

Despite the success of several international initiatives the glycosciences still lack a managed infrastructure that contributes to the advancement of research through the provision of comprehensive structural and experimental glycan data collections. UniCarbKB is an initiative that aims to promote the creation of an online information storage and search platform for glycomics and glycobiology research. The knowledgebase will offer a freely accessible and information-rich resource supported by querying interfaces, annotation technologies and the adoption of common standards to integrate structural, experimental and functional data. The UniCarbKB framework endeavors to support the growth of glycobioinformatics and the dissemination of knowledge through the provision of an open and unified portal to encourage the sharing of data. In order to achieve this, the framework is committed to the development of tools and procedures that support data annotation, and expanding interoperability through cross-referencing of existing databases. Database URL: http://www.unicarbkb.org.