EMBOSS: infoalign

| infoalign

## Function

Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment

## Description

infoalign displays on screen basic information about sequences in an input multiple sequence alignment. This includes the sequences' USA, name, two measures of length, counts of gaps, and numbers of identical, similar and different residues or bases in this sequence when compared to a reference sequence, together with a simple statistic of the % change between the reference sequence and this sequence. Any combination of these records is easily selected or unselected for display. The same information may be written to an output file which (optionally) may be formatted in an HTML table.

The reference sequence is the one against which all the other sequences are compared using a specified substitution matrix. It is either the calculated consensus sequence of the alignment (the default) or it can be one of the set of aligned sequences, specified by either the ordinal number of that sequence in the input file, or by name. There are various options to control how the consensus is calculated.

## Algorithm

The set of aligned sequences is read in.

If the reference sequence is the consensus sequence (this is the default) then this is calculated. If the reference sequence is specified as an ordinal number, then the sequences are counted (from 1) until the reference sequence is identified. If the reference sequence is specified by its name then the names of the sequences are compared to the specified name until the reference sequence is identified.

    Foreach sequence:

      Find the position of the first residue or base which is not a gap character.

      Find the position of the last residue or base which is not a gap character.

      Foreach position from the first non-gap character to the last non-gap
    character:

        if the position is a gap character, then

          increment the 'GapLen' count

          if this character is the start of a new gap, increment the 'Gaps' count

        else

          the character at this position of the sequence and in the
          reference sequence are now compared.

          if the sequence character and the reference character are identical
          (apart from case) then

            increment the 'Ident' count

          else if the similarity matrix score for the two characters is > 0
          (i.e.  if they are similar) then

            increment the 'Similar' count

          else

            increment the 'Different' count

      The 'SeqLen' length of the sequence is the number of non-gap characters
      in the sequence (i.e. 'Ident' + 'Similar' + 'Different')

      The 'AlignLen' length of the sequence is the length from the first
      non-gap character to the last non-gap character.  (i.e.  the number of
      bases or residues of the sequence plus the number of gap characters
      internal to the sequence.)

      The '%Change' value for the sequence is calculated as:

      ('AlignLen' - 'Ident') * 100 / 'AlignLen'

## Usage

Here is a sample session with infoalign

    % infoalign globins.msf
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the input files for this example
Go to the output files for this example

Example 2

This example doesn't display the USA of the sequence:

    % infoalign globins.msf -nousa
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the output files for this example

Example 3

Display only the name and sequence length of a sequence:

    % infoalign globins.msf -only -name -seqlength
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the output files for this example

Example 4

Display only the name, number of gap characters and differences to the consensus sequence:

    % infoalign globins.msf -only -name -gapcount -diffcount
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the output files for this example

Example 5

Display the name and number of gaps within a sequence:

    % infoalign globins.msf -only -name -gaps
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the output files for this example

Example 6

Display information formatted with HTML:

    % infoalign globins.msf -html
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the output files for this example

Example 7

Use the first sequence as the reference sequence to compare to:

    % infoalign globins.msf -refseq 1
    Display basic information about a multiple sequence alignment
    Output file [globins.infoalign]:

Go to the output files for this example

Example 8

    % infoalign -auto @eclac.list -out test.out

Go to the input files for this example
Go to the output files for this example

Example 9

    % infoalign -auto tembl:v00296 -out test.out

Go to the input files for this example
Go to the output files for this example

## Command line arguments

       Standard (Mandatory) qualifiers:
      [-sequence]          seqset     The sequence alignment to be displayed.
      [-outfile]           outfile    [*.infoalign] If you enter the name of a
                                      file here then this program will write the
                                      sequence details into that file.

       Additional (Optional) qualifiers:
       -matrix             matrix     [EBLOSUM62 for protein, EDNAFULL for DNA]
                                      This is the scoring matrix file used when
                                      comparing sequences. By default it is the
                                      file 'EBLOSUM62' (for proteins) or the file
                                      'EDNAFULL' (for nucleic sequences). These
                                      files are found in the 'data' directory of
                                      the EMBOSS installation.
       -refseq             string     [0] If you give the number in the alignment
                                      or the name of a sequence, it will be taken
                                      to be the reference sequence. The reference
                                      sequence is the one against which all the
                                      other sequences are compared. If this is set
                                      to 0 then the consensus sequence will be
                                      used as the reference sequence. By default
                                      the consensus sequence is used as the
                                      reference sequence. (Any string is accepted)
       -html               boolean    [N] Format output as an HTML table

       Advanced (Unprompted) qualifiers:
       -plurality          float      [50.0] Set a cut-off for the % of positive
                                      scoring matches below which there is no
                                      consensus. The default plurality is taken as
                                      50% of the total weight of all the
                                      sequences in the alignment. (Number from
                                      0.000 to 100.000)
       -identity           float      [0.0] Provides the facility of setting the
                                      required number of identities at a position
                                      for it to give a consensus. Therefore, if
                                      this is set to 100% only columns of
                                      identities contribute to the consensus.
                                      (Number from 0.000 to 100.000)
       -only               boolean    [N] This is a way of shortening the command
                                      line if you only want a few things to be
                                      displayed. Instead of specifying:
                                      '-nohead -nousa -noname -noalign -nogaps
                                      -nogapcount -nosimcount -noidcount
                                      -nodiffcount -noweight'
                                      to get only the sequence length output, you
                                      can specify
                                      '-only -seqlength'
       -heading            boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display column headings
       -usa                boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display the USA of the
                                      sequence
       -name               boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display 'name' column
       -seqlength          boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display 'seqlength' column
       -alignlength        boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display 'alignlength' column
       -gaps               boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display number of gaps
       -gapcount           boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display number of gap
                                      positions
       -idcount            boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display number of identical
                                      positions
       -simcount           boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display number of similar
                                      positions
       -diffcount          boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display number of different
                                      positions
       -change             boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display % number of changed
                                      positions
       -weight             boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display 'weight' column
       -description        boolean    [@(!$(only))] Display 'description' column

       Associated qualifiers:

       "-sequence" associated qualifiers
       -sbegin1            integer    Start of each sequence to be used
       -send1              integer    End of each sequence to be used
       -sreverse1          boolean    Reverse (if DNA)
       -sask1              boolean    Ask for begin/end/reverse
       -snucleotide1       boolean    Sequence is nucleotide
       -sprotein1          boolean    Sequence is protein
       -slower1            boolean    Make lower case
       -supper1            boolean    Make upper case
       -sformat1           string     Input sequence format
       -sdbname1           string     Database name
       -sid1               string     Entryname
       -ufo1               string     UFO features
       -fformat1           string     Features format
       -fopenfile1         string     Features file name

       "-outfile" associated qualifiers
       -odirectory2        string     Output directory

       General qualifiers:
       -auto               boolean    Turn off prompts
       -stdout             boolean    Write first file to standard output
       -filter             boolean    Read first file from standard input, write
                                      first file to standard output
       -options            boolean    Prompt for standard and additional values
       -debug              boolean    Write debug output to program.dbg
       -verbose            boolean    Report some/full command line options
       -help               boolean    Report command line options. More
                                      information on associated and general
                                      qualifiers can be found with -help -verbose
       -warning            boolean    Report warnings
       -error              boolean    Report errors
       -fatal              boolean    Report fatal errors
       -die                boolean    Report dying program messages

Standard (Mandatory) qualifiers | Allowed values | Default
--- | --- | ---
[-sequence] (Parameter 1) | The sequence alignment to be displayed. | Readable set of sequences | Required
[-outfile] (Parameter 2) | If you enter the name of a file here then this program will write the sequence details into that file. | Output file | <*>.infoalign
Additional (Optional) qualifiers | Allowed values | Default
-matrix | This is the scoring matrix file used when comparing sequences. By default it is the file 'EBLOSUM62' (for proteins) or the file 'EDNAFULL' (for nucleic sequences). These files are found in the 'data' directory of the EMBOSS installation. | Comparison matrix file in EMBOSS data path | EBLOSUM62 for protein EDNAFULL for DNA
-refseq | If you give the number in the alignment or the name of a sequence, it will be taken to be the reference sequence. The reference sequence is the one against which all the other sequences are compared. If this is set to 0 then the consensus sequence will be used as the reference sequence. By default the consensus sequence is used as the reference sequence. | Any string is accepted | 0
-html | Format output as an HTML table | Boolean value Yes/No | No
Advanced (Unprompted) qualifiers | Allowed values | Default
-plurality | Set a cut-off for the % of positive scoring matches below which there is no consensus. The default plurality is taken as 50% of the total weight of all the sequences in the alignment. | Number from 0.000 to 100.000 | 50.0
-identity | Provides the facility of setting the required number of identities at a position for it to give a consensus. Therefore, if this is set to 100% only columns of identities contribute to the consensus. | Number from 0.000 to 100.000 | 0.0
-only | This is a way of shortening the command line if you only want a few things to be displayed. Instead of specifying: '-nohead -nousa -noname -noalign -nogaps -nogapcount -nosimcount -noidcount -nodiffcount -noweight' to get only the sequence length output, you can specify '-only -seqlength' | Boolean value Yes/No | No
-heading | Display column headings | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-usa | Display the USA of the sequence | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-name | Display 'name' column | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-seqlength | Display 'seqlength' column | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-alignlength | Display 'alignlength' column | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-gaps | Display number of gaps | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-gapcount | Display number of gap positions | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-idcount | Display number of identical positions | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-simcount | Display number of similar positions | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-diffcount | Display number of different positions | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-change | Display % number of changed positions | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-weight | Display 'weight' column | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))
-description | Display 'description' column | Boolean value Yes/No | @(!$(only))

## Input file format

infoalign reads a normal multiple sequence alignment file, as produced by a alignment program.

### Input files for usage example

### File: globins.msf

    !!AA_MULTIPLE_ALIGNMENT 1.0

      ../data/globins.msf MSF:  164 Type: P 25/06/01 CompCheck: 4278 ..

      Name: HBB_HUMAN Len: 164  Check: 6914 Weight: 0.61
      Name: HBB_HORSE Len: 164  Check: 6007 Weight: 0.65
      Name: HBA_HUMAN Len: 164  Check: 3921 Weight: 0.65
      Name: HBA_HORSE Len: 164  Check: 4770 Weight: 0.83
      Name: MYG_PHYCA Len: 164  Check: 7930 Weight: 1.00
      Name: GLB5_PETMA Len: 164  Check: 1857 Weight: 0.91
      Name: LGB2_LUPLU Len: 164  Check: 2879 Weight: 0.43

    //

               1                                               50
    HBB_HUMAN  ~~~~~~~~VHLTPEEKSAVTALWGKVN.VDEVGGEALGR.LLVVYPWTQR
    HBB_HORSE  ~~~~~~~~VQLSGEEKAAVLALWDKVN.EEEVGGEALGR.LLVVYPWTQR
    HBA_HUMAN  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~VLSPADKTNVKAA.WGKVGAHAGEYGAEALERMFLS
    HBA_HORSE  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~VLSAADKTNVKAA.WSKVGGHAGEYGAEALERMFLG
    MYG_PHYCA  ~~~~~~~VLSEGEWQLVLHVWAKVEAD.VAGHGQDILIR.LFKSHPETLE
    GLB5_PETMA PIVDTGSVAPLSAAEKTKIRSAWAPVYSTYETSGVDILVKFFTSTPAAQE
    LGB2_LUPLU ~~~~~~~~GALTESQAALVKSSWEEFNANIPKHTHRFFILVLEIAPAAKD

               51                                             100
    HBB_HUMAN  FFESFGDLSTPDAVMGNPKVKAHGKKVLGAFSDGLAHLDNLKGTFATLSE
    HBB_HORSE  FFDSFGDLSNPGAVMGNPKVKAHGKKVLHSFGEGVHHLDNLKGTFAALSE
    HBA_HUMAN  FPTTKTYFPHFDLSHGSAQVKGHGKKVADALTNAVAHVDDMPNALSALSD
    HBA_HORSE  FPTTKTYFPHFDLSHGSAQVKAHGKKVGDALTLAVGHLDDLPGALSNLSD
    MYG_PHYCA  KFDRFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGVTVLTALGAILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQ
    GLB5_PETMA FFPKFKGLTTADQLKKSADVRWHAERIINAVNDAVASMDDTEKMSMKLRD
    LGB2_LUPLU LFSFLKGTSEVPQNNPELQAHAGKVFKLVYEAAIQLQVTGVVVTDATLKN

               101                                            150
    HBB_HUMAN  LHCDKLH..VDPENFRLLGNVLVCVLAHHFGKEFTPPVQAAYQKVVAGVA
    HBB_HORSE  LHCDKLH..VDPENFRLLGNVLVVVLARHFGKDFTPELQASYQKVVAGVA
    HBA_HUMAN  LHAHKLR..VDPVNFKLLSHCLLVTLAAHLPAEFTPAVHASLDKFLASVS
    HBA_HORSE  LHAHKLR..VDPVNFKLLSHCLLSTLAVHLPNDFTPAVHASLDKFLSSVS
    MYG_PHYCA  SHATKHK..IPIKYLEFISEAIIHVLHSRHPGDFGADAQGAMNKALELFR
    GLB5_PETMA LSGKHAK..SFQVDPQYFKVLAAVIADTVAAGDAGFEKLMSMICILLRSA
    LGB2_LUPLU LGSVHVSKGVADAHFPVVKEAILKTIKEVVGAKWSEELNSAWTIAYDELA

               151        164
    HBB_HUMAN  NALAHKYH~~~~~~
    HBB_HORSE  NALAHKYH~~~~~~
    HBA_HUMAN  TVLTSKYR~~~~~~
    HBA_HORSE  TVLTSKYR~~~~~~
    MYG_PHYCA  KDIAAKYKELGYQG
    GLB5_PETMA Y~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    LGB2_LUPLU IVIKKEMNDAA~~~

### Input files for usage example 8

### File: eclac.list

    #Formerly ECLAC
    tembl:J01636

    #Formerly ECLACA
    tembl:X51872

    #Formerly ECLACI
    tembl:V00294

    #Formerly ECLACY
    tembl:V00295

    #Formerly ECLACZ
    tembl:V00296

### Input files for usage example 9

'tembl:v00296' is a sequence entry in the example nucleic acid database 'tembl'

### Database entry: tembl:v00296

    ID   V00296; SV 1; linear; genomic DNA; STD; PRO; 3078 BP.
    XX
    AC   V00296;
    XX
    DT   13-JUL-1983 (Rel. 03, Created)
    DT   18-APR-2005 (Rel. 83, Last updated, Version 5)
    XX
    DE   E. coli gene lacZ coding for beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23).
    XX
    KW   galactosidase.
    XX
    OS   Escherichia coli
    OC   Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Enterobacteriales;
    OC   Enterobacteriaceae; Escherichia.
    XX
    RN   [1]
    RP   1-3078
    RX   PUBMED; 6313347.
    RA   Kalnins A., Otto K., Ruether U., Mueller-Hill B.;
    RT   "Sequence of the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli";
    RL   EMBO J. 2(4):593-597(1983).
    XX
    RN   [2]
    RX   PUBMED; 3038536.
    RA   Zell R., Fritz H.J.;
    RT   "DNA mismatch-repair in Escherichia coli counteracting the hydrolytic
    RT   deamination of 5-methyl-cytosine residues";
    RL   EMBO J. 6(6):1809-1815(1987).
    XX
    CC   Data kindly reviewed (18-MAY-1983) by U. Ruether
    XX
    FH   Key             Location/Qualifiers
    FH
    FT   source          1..3078
    FT                   /organism="Escherichia coli"
    FT                   /mol_type="genomic DNA"
    FT                   /db_xref="taxon:562"
    FT   CDS             <1..3072
    FT                   /transl_table=11
    FT                   /note="galactosidase"
    FT                   /db_xref="GOA:P00722"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1BGL"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1BGM"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1DP0"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1F49"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1F4A"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1F4H"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1GHO"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1HN1"
    FT                   /db_xref="PDB:1JYN"

      [Part of this file has been deleted for brevity]

         gaggcccgca ccgatcgccc ttcccaacag ttgcgcagcc tgaatggcga atggcgcttt       180
         gcctggtttc cggcaccaga agcggtgccg gaaagctggc tggagtgcga tcttcctgag       240
         gccgatactg tcgtcgtccc ctcaaactgg cagatgcacg gttacgatgc gcccatctac       300
         accaacgtaa cctatcccat tacggtcaat ccgccgtttg ttcccacgga gaatccgacg       360
         ggttgttact cgctcacatt taatgttgat gaaagctggc tacaggaagg ccagacgcga       420
         attatttttg atggcgttaa ctcggcgttt catctgtggt gcaacgggcg ctgggtcggt       480
         tacggccagg acagtcgttt gccgtctgaa tttgacctga gcgcattttt acgcgccgga       540
         gaaaaccgcc tcgcggtgat ggtgctgcgt tggagtgacg gcagttatct ggaagatcag       600
         gatatgtggc ggatgagcgg cattttccgt gacgtctcgt tgctgcataa accgactaca       660
         caaatcagcg atttccatgt tgccactcgc tttaatgatg atttcagccg cgctgtactg       720
         gaggctgaag ttcagatgtg cggcgagttg cgtgactacc tacgggtaac agtttcttta       780
         tggcagggtg aaacgcaggt cgccagcggc accgcgcctt tcggcggtga aattatcgat       840
         gagcgtggtg gttatgccga tcgcgtcaca ctacgtctga acgtcgaaaa cccgaaactg       900
         tggagcgccg aaatcccgaa tctctatcgt gcggtggttg aactgcacac cgccgacggc       960
         acgctgattg aagcagaagc ctgcgatgtc ggtttccgcg aggtgcggat tgaaaatggt      1020
         ctgctgctgc tgaacggcaa gccgttgctg attcgaggcg ttaaccgtca cgagcatcat      1080
         cctctgcatg gtcaggtcat ggatgagcag acgatggtgc aggatatcct gctgatgaag      1140
         cagaacaact ttaacgccgt gcgctgttcg cattatccga accatccgct gtggtacacg      1200
         ctgtgcgacc gctacggcct gtatgtggtg gatgaagcca atattgaaac ccacggcatg      1260
         gtgccaatga atcgtctgac cgatgatccg cgctggctac cggcgatgag cgaacgcgta      1320
         acgcgaatgg tgcagcgcga tcgtaatcac ccgagtgtga tcatctggtc gctggggaat      1380
         gaatcaggcc acggcgctaa tcacgacgcg ctgtatcgct ggatcaaatc tgtcgatcct      1440
         tcccgcccgg tgcagtatga aggcggcgga gccgacacca cggccaccga tattatttgc      1500
         ccgatgtacg cgcgcgtgga tgaagaccag cccttcccgg ctgtgccgaa atggtccatc      1560
         aaaaaatggc tttcgctacc tggagagacg cgcccgctga tcctttgcga atacgcccac      1620
         gcgatgggta acagtcttgg cggtttcgct aaatactggc aggcgtttcg tcagtatccc      1680
         cgtttacagg gcggcttcgt ctgggactgg gtggatcagt cgctgattaa atatgatgaa      1740
         aacggcaacc cgtggtcggc ttacggcggt gattttggcg atacgccgaa cgatcgccag      1800
         ttctgtatga acggtctggt ctttgccgac cgcacgccgc atccagcgct gacggaagca      1860
         aaacaccagc agcagttttt ccagttccgt ttatccgggc aaaccatcga agtgaccagc      1920
         gaatacctgt tccgtcatag cgataacgag ctcctgcact ggatggtggc gctggatggt      1980
         aagccgctgg caagcggtga agtgcctctg gatgtcgctc cacaaggtaa acagttgatt      2040
         gaactgcctg aactaccgca gccggagagc gccgggcaac tctggctcac agtacgcgta      2100
         gtgcaaccga acgcgaccgc atggtcagaa gccgggcaca tcagcgcctg gcagcagtgg      2160
         cgtctggcgg aaaacctcag tgtgacgctc cccgccgcgt cccacgccat cccgcatctg      2220
         accaccagcg aaatggattt ttgcatcgag ctgggtaata agcgttggca atttaaccgc      2280
         cagtcaggct ttctttcaca gatgtggatt ggcgataaaa aacaactgct gacgccgctg      2340
         cgcgatcagt tcacccgtgc accgctggat aacgacattg gcgtaagtga agcgacccgc      2400
         attgacccta acgcctgggt cgaacgctgg aaggcggcgg gccattacca ggccgaagca      2460
         gcgttgttgc agtgcacggc agatacactt gctgatgcgg tgctgattac gaccgctcac      2520
         gcgtggcagc atcaggggaa aaccttattt atcagccgga aaacctaccg gattgatggt      2580
         agtggtcaaa tggcgattac cgttgatgtt gaagtggcga gcgatacacc gcatccggcg      2640
         cggattggcc tgaactgcca gctggcgcag gtagcagagc gggtaaactg gctcggatta      2700
         gggccgcaag aaaactatcc cgaccgcctt actgccgcct gttttgaccg ctgggatctg      2760
         ccattgtcag acatgtatac cccgtacgtc ttcccgagcg aaaacggtct gcgctgcggg      2820
         acgcgcgaat tgaattatgg cccacaccag tggcgcggcg acttccagtt caacatcagc      2880
         cgctacagtc aacagcaact gatggaaacc agccatcgcc atctgctgca cgcggaagaa      2940
         ggcacatggc tgaatatcga cggtttccat atggggattg gtggcgacga ctcctggagc      3000
         ccgtcagtat cggcggaatt ccagctgagc gccggtcgct accattacca gttggtctgg      3060
         tgtcaaaaat aataataa                                                    3078
    //

## Output file format

### Output files for usage example

### File: globins.infoalign

    # USA             Name        SeqLen	AlignLen	Gaps	GapLen	Ident	Similar	Differ	% Change	Weight	Description
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBB_HUMAN	HBB_HUMAN     146	150	3	4	68	17	61	54.666668	0.610000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBB_HORSE	HBB_HORSE     146	150	3	4	68	17	61	54.666668	0.650000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBA_HUMAN	HBA_HUMAN     141	144	2	3	60	9	72	58.333332	0.650000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBA_HORSE	HBA_HORSE     141	144	2	3	63	6	72	56.250000	0.830000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:MYG_PHYCA	MYG_PHYCA     153	157	3	4	30	15	108	80.891716	1.000000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:GLB5_PETMA	GLB5_PETMA    149	151	1	2	32	16	101	78.807945	0.910000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:LGB2_LUPLU	LGB2_LUPLU    153	153	0	0	19	24	110	87.581696	0.430000

### Output files for usage example 2

### File: globins.infoalign

    # Name        SeqLen	AlignLen	Gaps	GapLen	Ident	Similar	Differ	% Change	Weight	Description
    HBB_HUMAN     146	150	3	4	68	17	61	54.666668	0.610000
    HBB_HORSE     146	150	3	4	68	17	61	54.666668	0.650000
    HBA_HUMAN     141	144	2	3	60	9	72	58.333332	0.650000
    HBA_HORSE     141	144	2	3	63	6	72	56.250000	0.830000
    MYG_PHYCA     153	157	3	4	30	15	108	80.891716	1.000000
    GLB5_PETMA    149	151	1	2	32	16	101	78.807945	0.910000
    LGB2_LUPLU    153	153	0	0	19	24	110	87.581696	0.430000

### Output files for usage example 3

### File: globins.infoalign

    HBB_HUMAN     146
    HBB_HORSE     146
    HBA_HUMAN     141
    HBA_HORSE     141
    MYG_PHYCA     153
    GLB5_PETMA    149
    LGB2_LUPLU    153

### Output files for usage example 4

### File: globins.infoalign

    HBB_HUMAN     4	61
    HBB_HORSE     4	61
    HBA_HUMAN     3	72
    HBA_HORSE     3	72
    MYG_PHYCA     4	108
    GLB5_PETMA    2	101
    LGB2_LUPLU    0	110

### Output files for usage example 5

### File: globins.infoalign

    HBB_HUMAN     3
    HBB_HORSE     3
    HBA_HUMAN     2
    HBA_HORSE     2
    MYG_PHYCA     3
    GLB5_PETMA    1
    LGB2_LUPLU    0

### Output files for usage example 6

### File: globins.infoalign

    <table border cellpadding=4 bgcolor="#FFFFF0">
    <tr><th>USA</th><th>Name</th><th>Sequence Length</th><th>Aligned Length</th><th>Gaps</th><th>Gap Length</th><th>Identity</th><th>Similarity</th><th>Difference</th><th>% Change</th><th>Weight</th><th>Description</th></tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBB_HUMAN</td>
    <td>HBB_HUMAN</td>
    <td>146</td>
    <td>150</td>
    <td>3</td>
    <td>4</td>
    <td>68</td>
    <td>17</td>
    <td>61</td>
    <td>54.666668</td>
    <td>0.610000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBB_HORSE</td>
    <td>HBB_HORSE</td>
    <td>146</td>
    <td>150</td>
    <td>3</td>
    <td>4</td>
    <td>68</td>
    <td>17</td>
    <td>61</td>
    <td>54.666668</td>
    <td>0.650000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBA_HUMAN</td>
    <td>HBA_HUMAN</td>
    <td>141</td>
    <td>144</td>
    <td>2</td>
    <td>3</td>
    <td>60</td>
    <td>9</td>
    <td>72</td>
    <td>58.333332</td>
    <td>0.650000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBA_HORSE</td>
    <td>HBA_HORSE</td>
    <td>141</td>
    <td>144</td>
    <td>2</td>
    <td>3</td>
    <td>63</td>
    <td>6</td>
    <td>72</td>
    <td>56.250000</td>
    <td>0.830000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:MYG_PHYCA</td>
    <td>MYG_PHYCA</td>
    <td>153</td>
    <td>157</td>
    <td>3</td>
    <td>4</td>
    <td>30</td>
    <td>15</td>
    <td>108</td>
    <td>80.891716</td>
    <td>1.000000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:GLB5_PETMA</td>
    <td>GLB5_PETMA</td>
    <td>149</td>
    <td>151</td>
    <td>1</td>
    <td>2</td>
    <td>32</td>
    <td>16</td>
    <td>101</td>
    <td>78.807945</td>
    <td>0.910000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    <tr><td>msf::../../data/globins.msf:LGB2_LUPLU</td>
    <td>LGB2_LUPLU</td>
    <td>153</td>
    <td>153</td>
    <td>0</td>
    <td>0</td>
    <td>19</td>
    <td>24</td>
    <td>110</td>
    <td>87.581696</td>
    <td>0.430000</td>
    <td></td>
    </tr>
    </table>

### Output files for usage example 7

### File: globins.infoalign

    # USA             Name        SeqLen	AlignLen	Gaps	GapLen	Ident	Similar	Differ	% Change	Weight	Description
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBB_HUMAN	HBB_HUMAN     146	150	3	4	146	0	0	2.666667	0.610000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBB_HORSE	HBB_HORSE     146	150	3	4	122	10	14	18.666666	0.650000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBA_HUMAN	HBA_HUMAN     141	144	2	3	48	19	74	66.666664	0.650000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:HBA_HORSE	HBA_HORSE     141	144	2	3	51	18	72	64.583336	0.830000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:MYG_PHYCA	MYG_PHYCA     153	157	3	4	30	22	101	80.891716	1.000000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:GLB5_PETMA	GLB5_PETMA    149	151	1	2	24	27	98	84.105957	0.910000
    msf::../../data/globins.msf:LGB2_LUPLU	LGB2_LUPLU    153	153	0	0	21	28	104	86.274513	0.430000

### Output files for usage example 8

### File: test.out

    # USA             Name        SeqLen	AlignLen	Gaps	GapLen	Ident	Similar	Differ	% Change	Weight	Description
    tembl-id:J01636   J01636        7477	7477	0	0	374	0	7103	94.997993	1.000000	E.coli lactose operon with lacI, lacZ, lacY and lacA genes.
    tembl-id:X51872   X51872        1832	1832	0	0	374	0	1458	79.585152	1.000000	Escherichia coli lacA gene for thiogalactoside transacetylase
    tembl-id:V00294   V00294        1113	1113	0	0	302	0	811	72.866127	1.000000	E. coli laci gene (codes for the lac repressor).
    tembl-id:V00295   V00295        1500	1500	0	0	336	0	1164	77.599998	1.000000	E. coli lacY gene (codes for lactose permease).
    tembl-id:V00296   V00296        3078	3078	0	0	373	0	2705	87.881744	1.000000	E. coli gene lacZ coding for beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23).

### Output files for usage example 9

### File: test.out

    # USA             Name        SeqLen	AlignLen	Gaps	GapLen	Ident	Similar	Differ	% Change	Weight	Description
    tembl-id:V00296   V00296        3078	3078	0	0	3078	0	0	0.000000	1.000000	E. coli gene lacZ coding for beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23).

The first non-blank line is the heading. This is followed by one line per sequence containing the following columns of data separated by one of more space or TAB characters:

- The USA (Uniform Sequence Address) that EMBOSS can use to read in the sequence.
- Name - name of the sequence.
- SeqLen - length of the sequence when all gap characters are removed.
- AlignLen - length of the sequence including internal gap characters i.e. gaps at the start or the end are not included.
- Gaps - number of gaps e.g. 'AAA---AAA' is 1 gap (and 3 gap characters long (see GapLen)).
- GapLen - total number of internal gap characters, see the 3 gap characters above. This is the sum total of all of the internal gap characters in this sequence.
- Ident - number of characters that are identical to the specified reference sequence (uppercase 'A' is identical to lowercase 'a').
- Similar - number of characters which are non-identical - which score > 0 in the comparison matrix when compared to the reference sequence, but which are not identical.
- Different - number of characters which score <= 0 in the comparison matrix when compared to the reference sequence.
- %Change - a simple measure of the percentage change as compared to the reference sequence: (AlignLen - Ident) * 100 / AlignLen
- Description - the description annotation of the sequence (if any).

If qualifiers to inhibit various columns of information are used, then the remaining columns of information are output in the same order as shown above, so if '-noseqlength' is used, the order of output is: usa, name, alignlength, gaps, gapcount, idcount, simcount, diffcount, change, description.

When the -html qualifier is specified, then the output will be wrapped in HTML tags, ready for inclusion in a Web page. Note that tags such as
and
are not output by this program as the table of databases is expected to form only part of the contents of a web page - the rest of the web page must be supplier by the user.

The lines of output information are guaranteed not to have trailing white-space at the end.

## Data files

infoalign reads in scoring matrices to determine the consensus sequence and to determine which matches are similar or not.

EMBOSS data files are distributed with the application and stored in the standard EMBOSS data directory, which is defined by the EMBOSS environment variable EMBOSS_DATA.

To see the available EMBOSS data files, run:

    % embossdata -showall

To fetch one of the data files (for example 'Exxx.dat') into your current directory for you to inspect or modify, run:

    % embossdata -fetch -file Exxx.dat

Users can provide their own data files in their own directories. Project specific files can be put in the current directory, or for tidier directory listings in a subdirectory called ".embossdata". Files for all EMBOSS runs can be put in the user's home directory, or again in a subdirectory called ".embossdata".

The directories are searched in the following order:

- . (your current directory)
- .embossdata (under your current directory)
- ~/ (your home directory)
- ~/.embossdata

## Notes

There are many qualifiers to control exactly what information on the sequence is output and how it is formatted. If you only want a few fields in the output file, the command line may be shortended by preceding the appropriate qualifier with `-only`. For example, instead of specifying `-nohead -nousa -noname -noalign -nogaps -nogapcount -nosimcount -noidcount -nodiffcount -noweight` to get only the sequence length output, you can specify `-only -seqlength`.

By default, the output file starts each line with the USA of the sequence being described, so the output file is a list file that can be manually edited and read in by any other EMBOSS program that can read in one or more sequence to be analysed.

## References

None.

## Warnings

None.

## Diagnostic Error Messages

None.

## Exit status

It always exits with status 0.

## Known bugs

None.

## See also

Program name | Description
--- | ---
edialign | Local multiple alignment of sequences
emma | Multiple sequence alignment (ClustalW wrapper)
infobase | Return information on a given nucleotide base
inforesidue | Return information on a given amino acid residue
infoseq | Display basic information about sequences
plotcon | Plot conservation of a sequence alignment
prettyplot | Draw a sequence alignment with pretty formatting
seealso | Finds programs with similar function to a specified program
showalign | Display a multiple sequence alignment in pretty format
showdb | Displays information on configured databases
textsearch | Search the textual description of sequence(s)
tfm | Displays full documentation for an application
tranalign | Generate an aligment of nucleic coding regions from aligned proteins
whichdb | Search all sequence databases for an entry and retrieve it
wossname | Finds programs by keywords in their short description

## Author(s)

Gary Williams (gwilliam © rfcgr.mrc.ac.uk)
MRC Rosalind Franklin Centre for Genomics Research Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SB, UK

## History

Written (June 2001) - Gary Williams

## Target users

This program is intended to be used by everyone and everything, from naive users to embedded scripts.

## Comments

None