A Database for the Model Organism Paramecium tetraurelia

Paramecium is a unicellular eukaryote of large size (120 micrometers) that belongs to the ciliate phylum. Ciliates share two characteristics: the presence of vibrating cilia which assure their locomotion and food capture, and nuclear dimorphism. Indeed, ciliates, like multicellular eukaryotes, separate germinal and somatic functions, but they do so in the form of two different kinds of nuclei. A diploid germinal micronucleus transmits the genetic information to the next sexual generation, while a polyploid somatic macronucleus is responsible for gene expression.

The Paramecium tetraurelia macronuclear genome was recently sequenced by the Genoscope French National Sequencing Center.

ParameciumDB is a new model organism database associated with the genome sequencing project. Built with core components of the Generic Model Organism Database (GMOD) project, ParameciumDB currently contains the macronuclear genome sequence and annotations, linked to available genetic data (RNA interference data and stock collection).

Please cite ParameciumDB:
Arnaiz et al. 2007. ParameciumDB: a community resource that integrates the Paramecium tetraurelia genome sequence with genetic data. Nucleic Acids Res 35: Database issue D439-D444. PMID: 17142227


If you find an annotation error, please contact us by email or join the community annotation project, so that we can improve Paramecium tetraurelia annotations.

News Documents
  • InterPro domains have been updated | 6 February 2009
  • ParameciumDB update and web browser cookies | 6 February 2009
  • A new version of GBrowse | 10 September 2008
  • A Wiki for ParameciumDB | 4 September 2008
  • Orthologs of Paramecium genes were determined for 15 representative eukaryotic genomes, using Inparanoid | 27 June 2008
  • New Tool: BioMart interface for advanced searches | 28 April 2008
  • ParameciumDB published in Nucleic Acids Research | 16 November 2006
  • Global trends in whole genome duplications revealed by the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia | 9 November 2006
  • more information ...