IUPHAR-DB: updated database content and new features

Abstract

The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) database, IUPHAR-DB (http://www.iuphar-db.org) is an open access, online database providing detailed, expert-driven annotation of the primary literature on human and rodent receptors and other drug targets, together with the substances that act on them. The present release includes information on the products of 646 genes from four major protein classes (G protein-coupled receptors, nuclear hormone receptors, voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels) and ∼3180 bioactive molecules (endogenous ligands, licensed drugs and key pharmacological tools) that interact with them. We have described previously the classification and curation of data for small molecule ligands in the database; in this update we have annotated 366 endogenous peptide ligands with their amino acid sequences, post-translational modifications, links to precursor genes, species differences and relationships with other molecules in the database (e.g. those derived from the same precursor). We have also matched targets with their endogenous ligands (peptides and small molecules), with particular attention paid to identifying bioactive peptide ligands generated by post-translational modification of precursor proteins. Other improvements to the database include enhanced information on the clinical relevance of targets and ligands in the database, more extensive links to other databases and a pilot project for the curation of enzymes as drug targets.

Figure 1.

Panel (A) shows a screenshot of the ligand page for the endogenous peptide orexin-A open at the ‘Summary’ tab. The sequence of orexin-A is identical in human, mouse and rat so the information on this peptide is grouped into a single database entry. Panel (B) shows a screenshot of the LH β subunit ligand page, open at the ‘Structure’ tab and showing the peptide sequence, post-translational modifications and a link to the ligand page for the LH heterodimer. Panel (C) shows a screenshot of the ligand page for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), open at the ‘Similar Ligands’ tab. The ‘Related Sequences’ table lists other peptides derived from the same precursor or orthologues in other species, whereas the ‘Other Similar Sequences’ table lists other peptides that have similar sequences to VIP, including synthetic and modified forms of VIP.