Stress response genes database

A manually curated database of stress response genes was created to annotate genes of plasmid DNA extracted from metaplasmidomes from polar environments. Based on a literature review, genes putatively involved in adaptation to cold environments, with a focus on the response to changing environmental conditions, were identified. We named selected genes according to Uniprot and NCBI databases. If available, references were added. Next, a collection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that had originally been extracted from the comprehensive antibiotic resistance gene database (CARD) (Jia et al., 2017) and the heavy-metal resistance gene database (BacMet) (Pal et al. 2014) was added. The compiled  database contains 2,451 sequences of proteins that putatively encode stress-response genes, including (i) 2,191 antibiotic-resistant genes and proteins, (ii) 119 heavy-metal resistant genes, (iii) 49 reactive oxygen species protection genes, (iv) 30 UV radiation protection genes, (v) 23 cold shock genes, (vi) 13 anti-freeze genes, (vii) 13 osmoregulatory genes, (viii) 4 phasins, (ix) 3 trehalose synthetases, (x) 3 hydroxyalkanoic acid synthetases, and (xi) 3 ice nucleation genes. In the end, we would like to add that, although we performed a thorough literature review to identify the stress response genes, we are aware that the database is still incomplete and needs further development.