GENE-SERVER _A_d_d_r_e_s_s: Dr. Dan Davison BCHS-5500 Dept. of Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences University of Houston 4800 Calhoun, Houston, Tx, 77204-5500 _E_m_a_i_l: davison@uh.edu (Internet), DAVISON@UHOU (Bitnet) _P_h_o_n_e: (713) 749-2801 (Dr. Davison) _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n The Gene-Server is a mail response facility that will return a specific GenBank (tm) entry requested via e-mail. Other Services: The server now distributes Protein Information Resource (PIR, also known as NBRF) protein sequence database entries. Molecular biology software for Apple Macintosh, DOS, Unix and VAX-VMS computers is also available from the server. A number of information files (the R. Roberts Restriction Enzyme database; sequence analysis reference, and such) are distributed. The Matrix of Biological Knowledge Archive-Server files are now available only from this address. Electronic mail searching of the protein sequence database is available; you simply send a properly formatted protein "query" sequence to a specific address on the server and the search will be performed automatically and the results returned via electronic mail. _________________________ The information in this section is provided in accor- dance with the copyright notice appearing at the front of this guide. September 10, 1990 NNSC Section 3.1, Page 1 _N_e_t_w_o_r_k _A_c_c_e_s_s The server can be accessed via e-mail on the Internet, BIT- NET, and UUCP networks. The addresses to use are: gene-server@bchs.uh.edu (Internet) bchs.uh.edu!genbank-server (Usenet) gene-server%bchs.uh.edu@CUNYVM (BITNET) Please be aware that a mail response program is not "smart" and can only respond to a limited set of commands. GenBank entries are available by name and accession number only. Your request can consist of one of the following: HELP SEND HELP SEND LOCUS genbank_locus_name SEND INDEX index_name SEND ACCESSION accession_number "HELP" will result in a small help file being sent back; everyone should request the help message. The file will contain up-to-date information about the server, access, release numbers, and policies. The help message also includes all index names, so "SEND INDEX" no longer works. "SEND INDEX index_name" (where "index_name" is one of the index files listed in the HELP message) will work. "SEND LOCUS genbank_locus_name" will return via e-mail the requested locus if it exists, and an error message if it does not. Use the index file in the HELP message to find the name of the entry, or use the accession number. The server runs every half hour and will handle only one request at a time. If you want more than one entry, send separate requests. Note that large GenBank entries (Lambda, EBV, tobacco and liverwort chloroplasts) may not make it through the thread of mailers. UUCP mailers, in particular, silently enforce a limit of 64,000 characters in a single mail message. Note also that Usenet mail is very unreliable; you should con- sult the "pathalias" database to construct a mail path from your machine to bchs.uh.edu. A local Unix mail wizard may be able to help. IMPORTANT NOTE: "gene-server@bchs.uh.edu" is an MX record. If you have problems reaching that address, ask your local September 10, 1990 NNSC Section 3.1, Page 2 system mail expert how to handle addresses that are "MX records." As a _v_e_r_y last resort, send email to one of the addresses given above. _W_h_o _C_a_n _U_s_e _t_h_e _C_a_t_a_l_o_g Anyone can use the catalog. _M_i_s_c_e_l_l_a_n_e_o_u_s The current version of GenBank on the server is Release 64. The server is updated as often as possible given funding (none) and disk space constraints. The server may be updated daily in the future. Information and software is exchanged regularly with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) File Server, but the specific files, syntax, and information vary between the two servers. The server contains a simple response to someone asking for too many loci or otherwise abusing the service: it stops working for them. Questions can be sent to davison@uh.edu (Internet) or DAVISON@UHOU(BITNET). Requests to talk to a human rather than a mail response program should be sent to archive- management@bchs.uh.edu. By popular demand, archive- managment@bchs.uh.edu also works. This service is provided by the Institute for Molecular Biology, the Department of Biochemical and Biophysical Sci- ences, the University of Houston Academic Computing Ser- vices, and the Office of the Vice President for Information Technologies. The server is not funded or related in any with the DHHS, PHS, National Institutes of Health, or its contractors or subcontractors on the GenBank contract. GenBank is a trade- mark of the US Department of Health and Human Services, US Public Health Service. September 10, 1990 NNSC Section 3.1, Page 3