Gene Ontology
This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, and undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
What is gene ontology?
Gene ontology is an attempt to create a universal language to describe many of the complex terms and processes involved in biology. Using the gene ontology database, scientists can look up a process, term, or gene of interest and find many related terms. The terms are divided into three different categories:
1) Cellular component: describes where in the cell the the protein carries out its molecular function
2) Molecular function: describes biochemical processes carried out by the gene on a molecular level
3) Biological process: describes the large scale biochemical process that the gene is involved in (e.g. growth or reproduction) [1]
Gene ontologies can be found in databases such as the GO consortium and AMIGO
1) Cellular component: describes where in the cell the the protein carries out its molecular function
2) Molecular function: describes biochemical processes carried out by the gene on a molecular level
3) Biological process: describes the large scale biochemical process that the gene is involved in (e.g. growth or reproduction) [1]
Gene ontologies can be found in databases such as the GO consortium and AMIGO
RAG1 ontology
Figure 1: An ontology of the nucleus, where RAG1 primarily localizes.
Figure 2: An ontology of the primary function of RAG1, sequence specific DNA binding.
Figure 3: An ontology of V(D)J recombination, the primary biological process RAG1 is involved in.
Discussion
RAG1 is only known to localize to the nucleus, which makes sense since it is involved in DNA recombination. The main molecular functions of RAG1 are sequence specific DNA binding and DNA cleavage, which are involved in its primary biological process, V(D)J recombination. These results fit well with the primary literature and known functions of RAG1.
References
1) Hill, D.P., Berardini, T.Z., Howe, D.G., Van Auken, K.M. (2010). Representing Ontogeny Through Ontology:A Developmental Biologist’s Guide to The Gene Ontology. Molecular Reproduction & Development. 77:314–329