Characterization of the drugged human genome

Human drug targets are a part of our genome of special relevance to human disease. However, the number and nature of drug target genes has not yet been conclusively assessed. We analyzed involvement in biochemical functions, biological processes and pathways, with chromosome, cellular and tissue distribution of the 392 human drug targets collected in DrugBank. Comparison with the whole human genome reveals their scarcely diverse characteristics, largely dominated by rhodopsin-like 7 transmembrane receptors involved in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and located in the plasma membrane. Drug target genes are frequently expressed in multiple tissues, suggesting drug application in distinct disease classes. Intersections with other clinically relevant gene sets, such as the Mendelian disorder-linked genes and various molecular cancer signatures, are discussed.