GNAS2009 Abstract #1 - Wright, Mathew

THE HGNC DATABASE: AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR THE HUMAN GENOME

M. Wright, S. Gordon, M. Lush, R. Seal, E. Bruford.

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK.

The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC, www.genenames.org) is an essential component of human genome management, and since 1989 has been the single authority for providing unique and user-friendly names and symbols for every gene in the human genome. Of the 28,000+ genes in our database most are protein-coding; we also name pseudogenes, phenotypic loci, some genomic features, and to date have named about 2,000 human non-coding RNA genes.

Approved gene symbols are based on names describing structure, function or homology wherever possible. Researchers are encouraged to contact the HGNC to request or confirm the approved nomenclature for specific genes and gene groupings, or to comment on the current gene names. A panel of over 100 specialists advise on the nomenclature of specific gene families, and we consult with our International Advisory Committee on policy issues.

Coordination with nomenclature committees for other species has proven invaluable; the HGNC has a very strong and active collaboration with the Mouse Genomic Nomenclature Committee (MGNC) and Rat Genome Database (RGD), which has proven essential in the parallel naming of orthologous human,  mouse and rat genes.  In order to identify genes for orthologous naming we have developed our HGNC Comparison of Orthology Predictions search tool, HCOP, as a useful one-stop resource to summarise, compare and access various sources of orthology data.  When sources agree on 1:1 orthologs between human and other mammals then these orthologs could directly adopt the human gene nomenclature.

The HGNC also has a strong working relationship with other databases including EntrezGene, Ensembl, SwissProt/UniProt and Vega. All of these databases, and many more, prominently display HGNC gene symbols; using these symbols in an online search will then allow the user to retrieve information about the genes, including the structure and function of the encoded proteins, known genetic variation and clinical phenotypes, and related genes both in humans and in other species.