ZSeekerDB: A database of Z-nucleic acid sequences across organismal genomes

Abstract

Alternative (non-B) nucleic acid structures such as Z-nucleic acids are emerging as key regulators of genome function. The density and distribution of Z-nucleic acid sequences across organismal and viral genomes can provide insights into their biological roles and evolutionary trajectory. Using our recently developed ZSeeker algorithm, we systematically analyzed over 280,000 organismal genome assemblies, identifying more than 850 million putative Z-forming loci. We also incorporated genomic coordinates, Z-score, and taxonomic metadata, enabling cross-species comparative and functional analyses. We introduce ZSeekerDB, the first large-scale, multi-taxon database cataloging Z-nucleic acid sequences, across organisms representing all major branches of life. ZSeekerDB enables interactive searches, visualizations, and downloads of Z-nucleic acid sequence data for independent analysis. ZSeekerDB is implemented as a web-portal for browsing, analyzing and downloading Z-forming loci, publicly available at https://zseeker-db.com/.