Using the KEGG Database Resource

KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) is a bioinformatics resource for understanding the functions and utilities of cells and organisms from both high-level and genomic perspectives. It is a self-sufficient, integrated resource consisting of genomic, chemical, and network information, with cross-references to numerous outside databases. The genomic and chemical information is a complete set of building blocks (genes and molecules) and the network information includes molecular wiring diagrams (interaction/reaction networks) and hierarchical classifications (relation networks) to represent high-level functions. This unit describes protocols for using KEGG, focusing on molecular network information in KEGG PATHWAY, KEGG BRITE, and KEGG MODULE, perturbed molecular networks in KEGG DISEASE and KEGG DRUG, molecular building block information in KEGG GENES and KEGG LIGAND, and a mechanism for linking genomes to molecular networks in KEGG ORTHOLOGY (KO). All of these many protocols enable the user to take advantage of the full breadth of the functionality provided by KEGG.