Switching from a fossil-fuel based industry to a green industry is a critical step towards a reduction of the CO₂ footprint of our economy. Proteins involved in the transformation of lignocellulose into simple sugars - which naturally occurs in fungi - are essential to convert plant material into green energy.
    The EnzymeTracker is a web-based database that aims at monitoring the numerous experiments that will be conducted to identify and characterize those proteins, from their basic functional annotations to their complete enzymatic activity. The EnzymeTracker relies on a MySQL database for efficient data management and a user-friendly AJAX interface that can be accessed over the Internet. The database is a collection of online spreadsheets grouped in four main sections: bioinformatics, cloning, screening and characterization. It also provides libraries of shared data such as protocols or vectors, and administration tools for data access control and user/team management. Our backup system enables users to access the full history of any entry in the database. The EnzymeTracker facilitates data entry by dynamically suggesting entries and providing smart data-mining tools to effectively retrieve data.
    Over 10,000 entries have been recorded in the database since its release in October 2009. The EnzymeTracker is available online at http://cubique.concordia.ca/enzymedb/index.php.