Abstract
In order to provide an overview of the transcriptional changes throughout the life cycle of the rice plant, we performed a high-resolution transcriptome analysis of japonica rice grown under the natural field conditions and constructed a gene expression profile database (RiceXPro, URL: http://ricexpro.dna.affrc.go.jp/). RiceXPro contains two data sets corresponding to spatiotemporal gene expression profiles of various organs and tissues, and continuous gene expression profiles of leaf from transplanting to harvesting. A user-friendly web interface enables the extraction of specific gene expression profiles by keyword and chromosome search, and basic data analysis, thereby providing useful information as to the organ/tissue and developmental stage specificity of gene expression. Analysis tools such as t-test, calculation of fold change, and degree of correlation facilitate the comparison of expression profiles between two random samples and the prediction of function of uncharacterized genes. As a repository of expression data encompassing growth in the field, this database can provide baseline information of genes that underlie various agronomically important traits in rice.
