InforMax Announces Availability of Two New GenoMax(TM) Modules With System 3.1 Release
Leading-Edge Proteomic Application and Chromosome and Expressed
Sequence Tag (EST) Mapping Modules Designed to Dramatically
Increase Efficiency in Research and Discovery of New Drug Targets
BETHESDA, Md., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- InforMax, Inc. (Nasdaq: INMX), a leading global provider of bioinformatics software solutions, today announced the release of GenoMax(TM) 3.1. This new release contains significant enhancements to the GenoMax system as well as the addition of two new modules: GenoMax Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis (PPI) module, a leading-edge proteomic application developed in conjunction with AxCell Biosciences, a subsidiary of Cytogen Corporation (Nasdaq: CYTO), and the GenoMax Genome Analysis module designed to help organize, classify, and analyze DNA data.
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Rapidly becoming an industry standard, GenoMax is an enterprise bioinformatics system that supports High-Throughput Research(TM) (HTR), InforMax's process for minimizing the time and cost of both discovering and validating valuable targets for pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic development. This modular family of tools is designed to work with one or more types of genomic and proteomic data, and now includes Sequence, Gene Expression, 3D Structure, Protein-Protein Interaction and Genome Analysis modules.
GenoMax Protein-Protein Interaction Module
AxCell's ProChart(TM) database, currently one of the most comprehensive databases of human protein interactions, has been successfully linked to InforMax's GenoMax enterprise software. The new GenoMax PPI module allows research scientists to quickly access and correlate the protein pathway information in AxCell's ProChart database with the sequence, expression, distribution, structural and bibliographical information that exists for the protein or pathway in question.
The first release of the ProChart database describes over 69,000 unique domain-ligand interactions, including those for all of the known human proteins containing the WW domain, one important element in the regulation of protein function. This domain is only the first of 60-80 medically relevant functional domains to be completely mapped. In addition to the information currently available, GenoMax customers and ProChart subscribers will have access to the data generated by AxCell's ongoing efforts to map all of the protein interactions in the human body. Substantial progress towards the complete mapping of additional protein domains is expected in 2001. The collaboration with AxCell grants InforMax exclusive distribution rights to the ProChart database, which will be continually updated.
"We are extremely pleased that the integration of our products has been successfully completed and that they are available for subscribers," said Alex Titomirov, Ph.D., InforMax chief executive officer and chairman. "This will allow the industry to access state-of-the-art proteomic information which can be brought to bear on drug discovery and other life science research."
Proteins in the human body interact using signaling pathways that, in turn, regulate cellular activity such as the transmission of nerve impulses, secretion of hormones or the triggering of cell replication. Aberrations in protein interactions play a role in the progress of diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. For example, health problems ranging from hypertension and muscular dystrophy to immunodeficiency have been linked to aberrations in the WW protein domain family.
The GenoMax PPI module features visual and analytical tools to access and understand the complex pathway interactions involved in cellular processes. This module is fully integrated with all other GenoMax modules, including Sequence Analysis, Gene Expression Analysis, 3D Structure Analysis and Genome Analysis, to allow complete interpretation of biological information.
GenoMax Genome Analysis Module
The GenoMax Genome Analysis module for chromosone and expressed sequence tag (EST) mapping is designed for convenient clustering, analysis, and assembly of genomic sequences and features a collection of tools for quick and easy navigation, management and viewing of genomic data. This allows customers to rapidly leverage the results of the international effort to sequence the human genome in their own research.
"Working with large stretches of genomic DNA, or even entire genomes, is becoming common in functional genomics research today. This requires specialized analysis and visualization tools to maximize researcher productivity," said Alex Titomirov, Ph.D., InforMax chairman and chief executive officer. "The GenoMax Genome Analysis module provides a complete set of specialized tools in an integrated working environment common to all of the programs of our GenoMax enterprise bioinformatics system."
Using specialized algorithms, researchers are able to manage diverse data types and organize this information. Putative full-length genes can be constructed using a variety of prediction algorithms, protein and EST sequences. Clusters and other markers can be projected onto the genomic DNA sequence, creating a custom map of interlinked features.
GenoMax System Enhancements
Additional enhancements to GenoMax include expanded automation of research protocols, allowing users to systematically and routinely scale up their R&D efforts. The new enhancements also include the continued refinement of GenoMax's powerful graphical user interface, allowing more intuitive tool access and system navigation.
Additional information about GenoMax and the new GenoMax PPI module and Genome Analysis module may be obtained by visiting the InforMax website at informaxinc.com or by calling 800-357-3114.
About InforMax
InforMax (Nasdaq: INMX) is a leading global developer of bioinformatics software for High-Throughput Research(TM). Founded in 1990, today InforMax products are used by 1,870 research organizations and more than 25,000 individual scientists worldwide (as of March 31, 2001) to understand and extract value from the massive amounts of data being generated by the Genomic Revolution. Among the Company's customers are 23 of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies. The Company's mission is to support the scientific community in drug discovery and to better understand the causes of disease. Our High- Throughput Research(TM) and comprehensive suite of bioinformatics software solutions help scientists increase the effectiveness and reduce the time and investment it takes to identify and validate biological targets and discover effective treatments for disease. InforMax bioinformatics software solutions enable a full range of gene-to-genome analysis, interpretation and data mining. Its market-leading products include Vector NTI(R) Suite, the most widely used software suite for enhancing laboratory productivity, and GenoMax (TM) for integrated analysis of genomic and proteomic data. Additional information about InforMax can be found at the Company's Web site at informaxinc.com . |
