Oligo-capped cDNAs for promoter identification and annotation

In order to obtain precise information of 5′ end of mRNAs, we have developed the oligo-capping method that replaces the cap of mRNA with synthetic oligonucleotides. Using the data from oligo-capped cDNAs, we constructed database of transcriptional start sites (DBTSS; http://elmo.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/dbtss/ ). This database shows the information on distribution of transcriptional start sites and can be used to identify the core promoter region. Here we show the summery and the update of DBTSS and its future use on identification of regulatory motifs within the promoter.