ToothPrint, a proteomic database for dental tissues

Increasing demand exists to disseminate and integrate proteomic data as proteome analysis assumes a commanding role in the postgenome era. Databases on the World Wide Web are an effective means to share information obtained from two-dimensional gels and allied proteomic approaches. Here we report the establishment of ToothPrint, a proteomic database for dental tissues accessed at http://toothprint.otago.ac.nz. Using developing rat enamel as a prototype, ToothPrint provides a variety of functionally relevant data (ligand binding, subcellular localisation, developmental regulation) in addition to protein identification maps. Features designed to enhance usability of the website and simplify its computing requirements are also outlined. Customized for mineralizing tissues, ToothPrint should prove to be an effective bioinformatic resource for investigations of dental biology.