GroovDB: A Database of Ligand-Inducible Transcription Factors

Genetic biosensors are integral to synthetic biology. In particular, ligand-inducible prokaryotic transcription factors are frequently used in high-throughput screening, for dynamic feedback regulation, as multilayer logic gates, and in diagnostic applications. In order to provide a curated source that users can rely on for engineering applications, we have developed GroovDB (available at https://groov.bio), a Web-accessible database of ligand-inducible transcription factors that contains all information necessary to build chemically responsive genetic circuits, including biosensor sequence, ligand, and operator data. Ligand and DNA interaction data have been verified against the literature, while an automated data curation pipeline is used to programmatically fetch metadata, structural information, and references for every entry. A custom tool to visualize the natural genetic context of biosensor entries provides potential insights into alternative ligands and systems biology.

Automated summary

Genetic biosensors play a crucial role in synthetic biology, particularly in high-throughput screening, dynamic feedback regulation, and diagnostic applications. To provide a reliable resource for engineering applications, we have developed GroovDB, a web-accessible database of ligand-inducible transcription factors that includes all the necessary information for building chemically responsive genetic circuits. Ligand-DNA interaction data have been verified and a custom tool allows visualization of the natural genetic context of biosensor entries.