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Bioinformatics of proteases in the MEROPS database
1Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 ISA, UK. alan.barrett@sanger.ac.uk
Current Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development
|June 26, 2004
Summary
Proteolytic enzymes, crucial for biological processes, are key drug targets. The MEROPS database classifies these enzymes and their inhibitors, aiding research into medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Proteolytic enzymes constitute approximately 2% of all proteins across organisms.
- Many proteases are medically significant, acting as potential drug targets.
- Exogenous proteases from pathogens and endogenous human proteases are key areas of study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the medical importance of proteolytic enzymes.
- To introduce the MEROPS database as a resource for protease and inhibitor information.
- To explain the hierarchical classification system used in MEROPS.
Main Methods:
- Information retrieval from the MEROPS database.
- Utilizing a hierarchical classification system for proteases and inhibitors.
- Categorization into clans and families based on homology.
Main Results:
- Proteases are classified into endogenous (human genome) and exogenous (pathogen genomes) types.
- Naturally occurring protease inhibitors possess pharmaceutical relevance.
- The MEROPS database organizes protease and inhibitor data using a hierarchical system.
Conclusions:
- Proteolytic enzymes are vital targets in drug discovery.
- The MEROPS database provides a structured approach to understanding proteases and their inhibitors.
- Hierarchical classification aids in managing and retrieving information on these important biomolecules.