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The NetAge database: a compendium of networks for longevity, age-related diseases and associated processes

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Abstract

Hundreds of genes and miRNAs have been identified as being involved in the determination of longevity, aging patterns and in the development of age-related diseases (ARDs). The interplay between these genes as well as the role of miRNAs in the context of protein–protein interaction networks has as yet been poorly addressed. This work was undertaken in order to integrate the data accumulated in the field, from a network-based perspective. The results are organized in the NetAge database—an online database and network analysis tools for biogerontological research (http://www.netage-project.org). The NetAge database contains gene sets and miRNA-regulated PPI networks for longevity, ARDs and aging-associated processes, and also common signatures (overlapping networks). The database is available through the NetAge website, which provides the necessary bioinformatics tools for searching and browsing the networks, as well as showing network info and statistics. By making these resources available online, we hope to provide the scientific community with a new, network-oriented platform for biogerontological research, and encourage greater participation in the systems biology of aging.

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Abbreviations

ARDs:

Age-related diseases

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

CGS:

Common gene signature

HLN:

Human longevity network

LAGs:

Longevity-associated genes

miRNA:

Micro RNA

PPI:

Protein–protein interaction

YABNA:

Yet another biological networks analyzer

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge all the members from the Lab for the Biology of Aging and from the Lab of Molecular Biology of the Cell for their contribution, insightful suggestions and helpful comments. This work was supported by the European Union FP7 Health Research Grant number HEALTH-F4-2008-202047 (to V.F).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Robi Tacutu, Arie Budovsky & Vadim E. Fraifeld

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  1. Robi Tacutu
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  2. Arie Budovsky
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  3. Vadim E. Fraifeld
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Correspondence to Vadim E. Fraifeld.

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Tacutu, R., Budovsky, A. & Fraifeld, V.E. The NetAge database: a compendium of networks for longevity, age-related diseases and associated processes. Biogerontology 11, 513–522 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-010-9265-8

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