Batch Search allows users to execute multiple search queries simultaneously. For instance, users can search for the responses of multiple insect olfactory receptors by entering a set of receptor sequences, with each sequence placed on a new line.
Batch Search can be used for receptors with various identifiers, including the full amino acid sequence, protein accession number, or receptor name. The same applies to molecules, for which the corresponding InChIKey, CID, or SMILES can be used as input.
Furthermore, the Batch Search feature supports the use of multiple criteria, which can be combined using Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and NOT. This enables more complex searches and provides users with a higher degree of control and specificity in their queries.
The Basic Search function can be accessed through the search bar located on the home page. This feature allows users to search for either odorant molecules or insect olfactory receptors.
When searching for molecules, users can enter several types of identifiers, including the InChIKey, CID, SMILES, or the common name of the compound. When searching for insect olfactory receptors, users can enter the complete amino acid sequence, the receptor name, or a protein accession number, when available. Receptors can also be identified using a partial sequence, such as a specific motif.
After submitting a search query for either a molecule or a receptor, users are redirected to the Listing page. This page compiles all records that match the search criteria.
1. Molecule Listing
Each tile representing a molecule includes the common name, a clickable CID that redirects users to the corresponding PubChem page, and the InChIKey identifier. Users can either click on a single tile or select multiple molecules using the checkbox located in the top-right corner of each tile.
After finalizing the selection, users can navigate to the experiment table corresponding to the selected molecules. At the bottom left of the listing page, the number of results matching the search criteria is displayed. If the number of matches is greater than 30, page navigation options are available at the bottom right.
2. Molecule Page
The banner provides information about the search query, similar to the details displayed on the tile in the listing page. Below the banner, statistics related to the displayed Experiments Table are shown. Four sections respectively indicate the number of displayed unique molecules, unique insect olfactory receptors, EC50 experiments, and sources linked to the table.
Two pie charts provide a quick overview of the proportions of agonists and non-agonists, as well as monomolecular compounds, sums of isomers, and mixtures.
The Experiments Table lists all available columns. For more detailed information about these columns, users should refer to the Documentation page.
The table can be downloaded by clicking on the download icon. Above the table, the total number of records is displayed, and users can choose the number of rows displayed per page. Each column can be sorted in ascending or descending order to facilitate navigation.
Filters are available to select specific values for certain columns. For example, to obtain a list of insect olfactory receptors activated by a molecule of interest, users can search for the molecule, and use the Filters panel to select only responsive records (Responsive = 1). Records can be further filtered, for instance by selecting only dose-response experiments (Parameter = EC50). The statistics displayed at the top of the page are automatically updated according to the selected filters. See the Filters section below for details on how filtering works.
Cells in columns such as protein accession number, CID, and DOI are clickable and redirect users to the relevant protein database (Uniprot or Genbank), PubChem, and reference web pages, respectively. InChIKey and Gene Name redirect users to the Experiments Table corresponding to the selected molecule or receptor. In addition, an “eye” icon allows users to view the full content of each cell.
3. Receptor Listing
Each tile representing an insect olfactory receptor includes the receptor name, a clickable protein accession number, when available, and the species associated with the receptor. Users can either click on a single tile or select multiple receptors using the checkbox located in the top-right corner of each tile.
After finalizing the selection, users can navigate to the experiment table containing the selected receptors. At the bottom left of the listing page, the number of results matching the search criteria is displayed. If the number of matches is greater than 30, page navigation options are available at the bottom right.
4. Receptor Page
The banner on the receptor page provides information about the search query, similar to the details displayed on the tile in the listing page. Below the banner, statistics related to the displayed experiment table are shown. Four sections respectively indicate the number of displayed unique molecules, unique insect olfactory receptors, EC50 experiments, and sources linked to the table.
Two pie charts provide a quick overview of the proportions of agonists and non-agonists, as well as monomolecular compounds, sums of isomers, and mixtures.
Unlike the Experiments Table displayed after a molecule search, receptor searches also provide a BLAST (receptor variants) Table. For comprehensive information about this table, users should refer to the Documentation page. This table facilitates the precise selection of receptor variants, mutants, or related sequences associated with the receptor of interest by using the checkbox column. Users can select multiple entries from this column and conveniently select or deselect all entries with a single click at the top of the column. This feature increases search flexibility and allows users to generate more tailored results.
The Experiments Table then lists all available columns. For more detailed information about these columns, users should refer to the Documentation page. The table can be downloaded by clicking on the download icon. Above the table, the total number of records is displayed, and users can choose the number of rows displayed per page. Each column can be sorted in ascending or descending order to facilitate navigation.
As on the Molecule Page, filters are available to select specific values for certain columns. For example, to retrieve all known agonists with their corresponding EC50 values for a given insect olfactory receptor, users can search for the receptor of interest and then use the Filters panel to select only responsive records obtained from dose-response experiments (Responsive = 1, Parameter = EC50). The statistics displayed at the top of the page are automatically updated according to the selected filters.
Cells in columns such as protein accession number, CID, and DOI are clickable and redirect users to the relevant protein database (Uniprot or Genbank), PubChem, and reference web pages, respectively. InChIKey and Gene Name redirect users to the Experiments Table corresponding to the selected molecule or receptor. In addition, an “eye” icon allows users to view the full content of each cell.
Once a search returns results (on a Molecule Page, a Receptor Page, the Experiments table, or an Advanced Search results page), Filters let users narrow that list down to specific values without leaving the page. Filters are organized into six groups: Receptor, Co-Receptor, Molecule, Response, BioAssay, and Resources. A group is omitted only when it duplicates information already fixed by the page itself: the Molecule group does not appear on a Molecule Page, since the molecule is already pinned by the search. The Receptor and Co-Receptor groups, however, stay available even on a Receptor or Co-Receptor Page, since their Mutated field is not fixed by the search (a receptor’s BLAST variants can be wild-type or mutant).
Filters can be reached two ways: the horizontal filter bar above the results table has one button per group, opening a small dropdown with just that groupu2019s fields without leaving the results; the Filters button opens a full panel listing all groups at once, useful to review or adjust several filters together.
Most fields, such as Species, Name, or Experimental Technique, are shown as a checkbox list allowing several values to be selected at once. Each option displays the number of results it would return; options that would return zero results, given the filters already applied, are grayed out. An option the user has already selected always stays selectable, so it can still be unchecked. Long lists include a search box to find an option quickly. Mutated (Receptor and Co-Receptor) is a yes/no toggle rather than a list, and Nb. Measurements is a numeric range with a minimum and a maximum bound.
A group with an active filter is expanded by default and shows a Clear button to reset just that group. As with the statistics shown above the Experiments Table, the displayed results and their counts update automatically as filters are applied.
Advanced Search allows users to build detailed, free-text queries against the M2iOR database. Each row lets users pick a field group (Receptor, Co-Receptor, Molecule, or Reference), then a specific field within that group, such as a receptor Species, Name, protein accession, or amino acid sequence, a molecule InChIKey, CID, or SMILES, or a bibliographic reference, and enter a value to match, including a partial sequence or motif. Four rows are shown by default; more can be added with the Add Option button, and any row can be removed.
Fields with a small, fixed set of values (experimental technique, mixture, responsive, and other categorical columns) are only available through Filters (see the Filters section below), which shows a live result count for every option and makes combining several such values at once easy. Species and Receptor/Co-Receptor Name are available in both places: their list of possible values keeps growing as new data is curated, so Advanced Search remains the better tool for excluding one value or combining them with unrelated fields, which a checkbox list cannot do.
The Advanced Search function also provides granular control over search queries through Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and NOT, selected per row. These operators enable more nuanced searches by allowing users to define specific combinations, include or exclude selected criteria, and thereby refine their search results.
