What is interferENZY?
The webserver interferENZY is a tool for standardized analysis of kinetic data, allowing automatic validation of enzymatic assays and unbiased estimation of true/apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (Km and V).
Enzymatic assays are widely employed to characterize enzyme function and activity, as well as the effect of modulating compounds. Such assays are subject to possible disturbances by hidden interferences such as instrumental drifts, time-dependent enzyme inactivation and unsuspected inhibition effects; in addition, kinetic data analysis is often affected by experimenter-related subjectivity. These factors can have a considerable impact on accuracy and reproducibility of kinetic results.
In order to bridge the gap between specialists in enzyme kinetics and users across all fields and levels of expertise, and eliminate the subjectivity factor in kinetic data analysis and reporting, interferENZY was created. This webserver provides an accessible, robust and standardized analysis of enzyme kinetics, free from the subjectivity associated with classic Michaelis-Menten analysis. It is expected to contribute to the improvement of the reproducibility and comparability of kinetic data in both fundamental and applied research in enzymology and related areas.
About the team
We are researchers at the Biomolecular Structure & Function Group of the Institute for Innovation and Research in Health (i3S), who specialize in Enzymology and Enzyme Kinetics. Our research has the goal of uniting fundamental analysis and study of enzyme kinetics to its pratical use, throught the creation of useful tools for robust validation and analysis of kinetic experimental data, and its subsequent application in both academic and industrial/R&D contexts.
Maria Filipa Pinto
Pedro M. Martins
Server Features
interferENZY is hosted on a Linux-based machine at i3S, running GNU Octave (free software under the GNU General Public License). Data analysis by interferENZY is dynamically performed by a GNU Octave custom script.
Additional custom functions used to run interferENZY
- Kendall's tau by Kurt Hornik for the determination of Kendall Correlation Coefficients;
- Colormap paruly by Chad Greene, obtained from Mathworks MATLAB Central File Exchange;
- Colormap Red to blue by Adam Auton, obtained from Mathworks MATLAB Central File Exchange.
Browser Compatibility
| OS | Version | Chrome | Firefox | Microsoft Edge | Safari |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | 10 | 78.0.3904.108 | 71.0 | 44.18362.449.0 | n/a |
| Linux | CentOS 7 | 76.0.3809.100 | 60.8.0esr | n/a | n/a |
| MacOS | Sierra | 78.0.3904.108 | 71.0 | Not tested | 12.1.12 |
Acknowledgements
- i3S IT department (Gil Magalhães and André Torres), for providing the infrastructure in which this server is based and java-development for interaction between GNU Octave and Linux;
- Rúben Aguiar, for building the basis for website construction and further java-development and bug-fixing;
- Tomás Pinto, for all the tips on web and platform development;
- Twitter Bootstrap, which was used to build the look of the website and interface with the webserver.
Disclaimers
interferENZY Copyright ©2019-2020 Maria Filipa Pinto, Pedro M. Martins
When using interferENZY, the user-provided dataset is only kept as long as interferENZY analysis by GNU Octave takes place; once the output page is presented the submitted dataset has been eliminated to ensure user data confidentiality.
THIS WEBTOOL IS FREE TO USE FOR ALL NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
THIS WEBTOOL IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS WEBTOOL, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.