This report examines the issues facing database and software developers as they strive to meet the demands of life scientists involved in protein science research. Proteomics is a multifaceted field composed of stepwise, analytical tasks. Along each step is the potential for the integration of technology and tools that will enable high productivity and accurate protein analysis. The objective of this report is to explore the bioinformatics utilized by scientists to analyze protein structure, function and interactions. This information will help marketing professionals and product developers to better understand the users' level of satisfaction with the technologies available, the definition of quality from the users' perspective and the unmet needs of the customers and clients. Proteomic software provides scientists with the ability to conduct database searches of known protein sequences utilizing batch or real-time processing. This software is capable of controlling automated hardware, i.e. robotics, as well as facilitating data transfer operations. Protein databases provide volumes of indexed biological information on proteins from model organisms enabling scientists to annotate and interpret their experimental results. Some challenges faced when using this technology are reliability, annotation requirements, integration capability, query formulation, cost effectiveness and ease-of-understanding. Competitors are actively engaged in improving their analytical tools and resources to meet the evolving needs of protein scientists. Some of the new inventions in protein databases and software allow sample tracking and integration of mass spectrometry data with gel images and integration of robotics and image analysis technologies. In addition, new software packages are being developed that provide the capability for integration of both company and user-derived data in a secure format for proteomic analysis. The final report is based on the opinions of a worldwide panel of research scientists. It provides you with the answers needed to better serve the protein science market and is available at a fraction of what it would cost to conduct a custom study similar in size and scope. Protein Databases & Software is the sixth installment in our series-which details all aspects of protein research-and specifically focuses on the analytical tools and resources employed by protein scientists. The demand for sophisticated tools in the field of proteomics has driven new inventions that address quality, customizability, security, compatibility and accessibility. As the alternatives grow, companies involved with proteomics must understand life scientists' successes and frustrations to improve their technology and make it more powerful. Report Highlights More than 450 researchers using protein databases and/or software participated in this survey between November 30 and December 6, 2001. The report details findings for each and every question in the survey. Below is a glimpse of some of the findings derived from different questions: • Almost three-quarters of protein scientists currently use databases in their protein research and this number will increase by 11% over the next 12 months. • Study respondents experience the greatest difficulty when attempting to obtain "functional data" and "tertiary structure" information from the protein databases they are using in their research. • When selecting a particular database for use in their research, most researchers look for "comprehensiveness" and also "accessibility." • At present, researchers are hampered by "difficult" and "time-consuming" analyses and are "overwhelmed" by the choice of database options. • "Increased ability to identify remote sequence/structure relationships" is one of the valued improvements to proteomics software program (Electronic copy also includes 1 print copy)
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