May 15, 2012 (Vol. 32, No. 10)
Rating:
Strong Points: Easy to browse, nice organization
Weak Points: Nothing major
Summary:
Do you love DNA polymerases? Well, the people at New England Biolabs certainly do —so much so, in fact, that they have created an online resource in honor of these important enzymes. Polbase is an open repository of genetic, biochemical, and structural information about DNA polymerases. Data is compiled in large part from references found in PubMed, and researchers in the field are encouraged to submit their own references. (As reads the plea on the homepage: “Polbase needs participation from DNA Polymerase experts to realize its full potential.”) Users can browse the properties of various polymerases—such as 5-3′ and 3-5′ exo activity and general error rate—as well as search for structures and genetic relationships to polymerases in other species. This website may be relatively new, but it is definitely off to a great start!