About AgeFactDB

The JenAge Ageing Factor Database AgeFactDB is aimed at the collection and integration of ageing-related data. In a first step it combines data from existing databases with age-related information, such as the Lifespan Observations Database and the GenAge Database. Information from further data sources will be included step by step. Value will be added to these data in several ways. One example is the consistent usage of synonyms for gene and protein names. In addition, new ageing-related information will be included both by manual and automatic information extraction from the scientific literature.

Ageing factors include genes, chemical compounds and other factors such as dietary restriction or overfeeding, heat shock, low temperature and so on whose action results in a changed lifespan or another ageing phenotype. Information related to the effect of ageing factors on life span and/or ageing phenotype is called an observation and is presented in the database on observation pages. To provide an easy and compact access to the complete information for a particular gene or a specific compound or for one of the other factors the corresponding observations are also summarised on ageing factor pages. Based on a comprehensive homology analysis, AgeFactDB provides, in addition to known ageing-related genes, a compilation of genes that are homologous to these known genes. These homologs can be considered as candidate or putative ageing-related genes.

Due to the different data structures of ageing phenotype observation data integrated from other databases we subdivide these observations into type 1 and 2. Observations of type 1 contain the phenotype data mostly unseparated within a single description. Observations of type 2 contain lifespan data in a more structured form (e.g.: separated into lifespan effect, lifespan change, lifespan value). Currently there might be an overlap between the observations of type 1 and 2 from the same source, namely GenAge. But we are working on a reduction of this overlap.

The AgeFactDB can be accessed either by entering a search string into the search field at the top right of each page or by browsing predefined lists. These lists are accessible from the AgeFactDB start page and also from the menu in any other AgeFactDB page. Searching for a certain text string returns by default a result list in the ageing factor list style. However, it is also possible to select the observation list style. In the hit list the search string occurrences are indicated.

Development and maintenance

Development and maintenance of the JenAge information resources is done by members of the Sühnel Lab at the Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute located in Jena / Germany. The resources are the joint work of Rolf Hühne (rhuehne@fli-leibniz.de), Torsten Thalheim (thalheim@fli-leibniz.de) and Jürgen Sühnel (jsuehnel@fli-leibniz.de). In addition, Kerstin Wagner (rake@fli-leibniz.de), member of the FLI's Public Relations Group, and Jana Schleicher (janasch@fli-leibniz.de) have contributed to the content of the Information Centre.