The Mnemiopsis Genome Project Portal: integrating new gene expression resources and improving data visualization

Following the completion of the genome sequencing and gene prediction of Mnemiopsis leidyi, a lobate ctenophore that is native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, we developed and implemented the Mnemiopsis Genome Project Portal (MGP Portal), a comprehensive Web-based data portal for navigating the genome sequence and gene annotations. In the years following the first release of the MGP Portal, it has become evident that the inclusion of data from significant published studies on Mnemiopsis has been critical to its adoption as the centralized resource for this emerging model organism. With this most recent update, the Portal has significantly expanded to include in situ images, temporal developmental expression profiles and single-cell expression data. Recent enhancements also include implementations of an updated BLAST interface, new graphical visualization tools and updates to gene pages that integrate all new data types. Database URL: https://research.nhgri.nih.gov/mnemiopsis/.