Mapping genes for calcium signaling and their associated human genetic disorders

Bioinformatics. 2017 Aug 15;33(16):2547-2554. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btx225.

Abstract

Motivation: Signal transduction via calcium ions (Ca2+) represents a fundamental signaling pathway in all eukaryotic cells. A large portion of the human genome encodes proteins used to assemble signaling systems that can transduce signals with diverse spatial and temporal dynamics.

Results: Here, we provide a map of all of the genes involved in Ca2+ signaling and link these genes to human genetic disorders. Using Gene Ontology terms and genome databases, 1805 genes were identified as regulators or targets of intracellular Ca2+ signals. Associating these 1805 genes with human genetic disorders uncovered 1470 diseases with mutated 'Ca2+ genes'. A network with scale-free properties appeared when the Ca2+ genes were mapped to their associated genetic disorders.

Availability and implementation: The Ca2+ genome database is freely available at http://cagedb.uhlenlab.org and will foster studies of gene functions and genetic disorders associated with Ca2+ signaling.

Contact: per.uhlen@ki.se.

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Signaling / genetics*
  • Chromosome Mapping / methods*
  • Databases, Genetic*
  • Genome, Human*
  • Genomics / methods
  • Human Genetics / methods
  • Humans