Metabolic pathway interface to molecular biology databases

We present results of providing database support to biomedicine via federation of SDB Cooperation/Integration based upon the KEGG GUI for molecular biology. The federation provides a common link to three molecular biology databases. The added value of the federation is freedom from consulting multiple references to ascertain the full set of enzymatic reactions in a metabolic pathway, and the option of selecting multiple queries to submit to the federated SDBs. Each of the SDBs is extensive, but incomplete. The union of the SDBs, implemented transparently by the federation, is more complete. Each SDB provides a different approach to the options available for data presentation and a different set of Web server tools for data analysis. Thus, an important part of the added value of the federation is the cross-fertilization available in the union of the molecular biological content, the presentation of data, and the tools available for analysis.