GlycoRDF: An Ontology to Standardize Glycomics Data in RDF
GlycoRDF is a standardized ontology for representing glycomics data in Resource Description Framework (RDF) format. It provides a common machine-readable interface for glycomics databases, enabling integration and cross-referencing of glycan structures, biological source information, publications, and experimental data. Developed by an international consortium of glycomics bioinformatics experts, GlycoRDF defines classes and predicates for diverse glycomics data types including glycan sequences, monosaccharide compositions, biological sources, literature references, NMR data, mass spectrometry data, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data. The ontology reuses concepts from established ontologies including UniProt Core, Bibliographic Ontology, Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, and HUPO-PSI Mass Spectrometry Ontology. GlycoRDF has been adopted by major glycomics database providers including CSDB, MonosaccharideDB, GlycomeDB, UniCarbKB, GlycoEpitope, GlycoNAVI, and GlycoProtDB, facilitating semantic web applications and SPARQL queries across heterogeneous glycomics data sources.

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