Revision as of 14:13, 31 July 2009

geWorkbench version 1.7.0 was released on July 17, 2009. We recommend that all users upgrade to the latest version. The release notes and downloads can be obtained from https://gforge.nci.nih.gov/frs/?group_id=78, and further instructions can be found on the Download and Installation page of this Wiki.

geWorkbench (genomics Workbench) is a Java-based open-source platform for integrated genomics, centered on the analysis of microarray gene expression data. Using a component architecture it allows individually developed plug-ins to be configured into complex bioinformatic applications. At present there are more than 50 available plug-ins supporting the visualization and analysis of gene expression and sequence data. Example use cases include:

• loading data from local or remote data sources.
• visualizing gene expression, molecular interaction networks, protein sequence and protein structure data in a variety of ways.
• providing access to client- and server-side computational analysis tools such as t-test analysis, hierarchical clustering, self organizing maps, regulatory neworks reconstruction, BLAST searches, pattern/motif discovery, etc.
• validating computational hypothesis through the integration of gene and pathway annotation information from curated sources as well as through Gene Ontology enrichment analysis.

geWorkbench is the Bioinformatics platform of MAGNet, the National Center for the Multi-scale Analysis of Genomic and Cellular Networks (one of the 7 National Centers for Biomedial Computing funded through the NIH Roadmap). Additionally, geWorkbench is supported by caBIG™, NCI's cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid initiative.

End-user and developer support for geWorkbench is provided through the caBIG™ Molecular Analysis Tools Knowledge Center, a component of the caBIG™ Enterprise Support Network.

Summary of changes in geWorkbench release 1.7.0

The geWorkbench 1.7.0. release notes are available at Release Notes

The geWorkbench application can be downloaded from downloads NCI's GForge site.

Major new features

• Marker Annotations - The Marker Annotations component now includes direct access to NCI Cancer Gene Index annotations. It supplies detailed literature-based annotations on a curated set of cancer-related genes.
• Grid Services - All geWorkbench grid services were updated to use caGrid v1.3, with caTransfer used for transferring large data sets.
• ARACNe2 - cellular regulatory network reverse engineering - This release includes a new version of ARACNe, called ARACNe2, from the lab of Andrea Califano at Columbia University. The new version adds the option to preprocess the user's dataset to obtain optimal runtime parameters. It also adds a new algorithm, Adaptive Partitioning, for calculating the mutual information between gene expression profiles. Adaptive partitioning is much faster and is considered to be more accurate than the previous algorithm.
• Component Configuration Manager (CCM) - The CCM allows individual components to be loaded and unloaded as desired, allowing geWorkbench to be customized to your needs.
• genSpace collaborative framework - discovery and visualization of workflows. Implemented user registration, preferences, and enhancements to function.

Newly released analysis components

• MarkUs - The MarkUs component assists in the assessment of the biochemical function for a given protein structure. It serves as an interface to the Mark-Us web server at Columbia. Mark-Us identifies related protein structures and sequences, detects protein cavities, and calculates the surface electrostatic potentials and amino acid conservation profile.
• MRA - The Master Regulator Analysis component attempts to identify transcription factors which control the regulation of a set of differentially expressed target genes (TGs). Differential expression is determined using a t-test on microarray gene expression profiles from 2 cellular phenotypes, e.g. experimental and control.
• Pudge - Interface to a protein structure prediction server (developed in the lab of Barry Honig at Columbia University) which integrates tools used at different stages of the structural prediction process.
• SVM 3.0 (GenePattern) - Support Vector Machines for classification. Provides an interface to remote execution on a GenePattern server.

Other changes in release 1.7.0

• Analysis - Parameter saving implemented in all components. If current settings match a saved set, it is highlighted.
• ARACNe - improved description of DPI in Online Help.
• caArray - query filtering on Array Provider, Organism and Investigator implemented.
• caArray - can now add a local annotation file to caArray data downloads.
• caGrid - caGrid connectivity is now built directly in to supported components rather than being a separate component itself.
• caScript - The caScript editor is no longer supported.
• Color Mosaic - now interactive with the Marker Sets list and Selection set.
• Cytoscape - Upgrade to Cytoscape version 2.4 for network visualization and interaction.
• Cytoscape - Set operations on genes being returned from Cytoscape network visualizations, via right-click menu.
• Cytoscape - Changes to tag-for-visualization - e.g., now only one way, from marker set to Cytoscape, not vice-versa.
• File loading - PDB protein structure files can now be loaded directly from the PDB database by structure name.
• Gene Ontology file - the OBO 1.2 file format is supported.
• Marker Annotations - add export to CSV file.
• Marker Sets component - a set copy function was added.
• MINDy - many improvements to display and results filtering - including marker set filtering.
• Scatter Plot - Up to 100 overlapping points can be displayed in a single tooltip.
• Various - A number of components were refactored.
• Workspace saving - now works properly for all components.