Understanding how genes are turned on or off in different parts of a plant is a key step toward unlocking how that plant grows, functions, and adapts. Researchers from the Forest Research and Management Organization, Japan, have made a significant contribution to this field by studying gene expression in Cryptomeria japonica, also known as Japanese cedar, an important tree species in forestry and environmental studies.

Using RNA sequencing, a technique that reads which genes are active and how much they’re being used, the team analyzed 35 tissue samples from 3-year-old cedar trees. To build an even more complete picture, they also gathered and reanalyzed 118 additional RNA sequencing datasets from public sources. Altogether, they compiled and standardized gene expression data from 153 different samples.

The result is SugiExDB, a new, user-friendly database that allows scientists to view and download gene expression patterns in Cryptomeria japonica. Hosted on the TogoDB platform, SugiExDB makes it easier for researchers around the world to study this species and use the data for breeding, ecological studies, or understanding plant biology more broadly.

The data storage of Cryptomeria japonica RNA-sequencing read counts

 a A comprehensive index of the data storage. b An example list of CPM values from the dataset”cjtissues_sato2023″. Users can download the complete CPM values for all genes as a CSV file. c A summary of CPM expression values accompanied by dot plots for all genes. d A specific dot plot illustrating the expression of a single gene

Availability – http://togodb.org/db/index_rnaseq_cj