ECD — a totally integrated database ofEscherichia coliK12

We have compiled the DNA sequence data for E. coli available from the GENBANK and EMBL data libraries and independently from the literature. Starting with this update of our Escherichia coli database (ECD release 20) we provide major changes compared to previous issues. This update not only represents another substantial increase in sequence information, it also allows now to find the exact physical location of each individual gene or regulatory region, even regarding discrepancies in nomenclature. In order to save space this printed version does not contain the database itself anymore, but we provide several examples. The complete database is publically available in electronic form together with a self explaining application program or as a flat file. The complete compilation including a full set of genetic map data and the E. coli protein index can be obtained in machine readable form from the EMBL data library as a part of the CD-ROM issue of the EMBL sequence database, released and updated every three months. After deletion of all detected overlaps a total of 2,878,364 individual bp is found to be determined till the end of June 1994. This corresponds to a total of 60.98% of the entire E. coli chromosome consisting of about 4,720 kbp. This number may actually be higher by 9161 bp derived from other strains of E. coli.