cNPDB: A comprehensive empirical crustacean neuropeptide database.

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Neuropeptides are crucial signaling molecules regulating biological processes.
• Crustacean model systems have been utilized for neuropeptide research for over four decades.
• A centralized resource for crustacean neuropeptides was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create the first centralized database for crustacean neuropeptides (cNPDB).
• To accelerate research in crustacean neuropeptidomics.
• To provide a foundation for cross-species translational studies of neuropeptide signaling.

Main Methods:

• Compiled data from 1364 published neuropeptides across 29 crustacean species.
• Annotated each neuropeptide with taxonomic information, physicochemical properties, spatial localization, and predicted 3D structure.
• Developed an intuitive web interface with filtering, sequence alignment, and property calculation tools.

Main Results:

• The cNPDB database is now available, containing comprehensive neuropeptide data.
• The resource includes detailed annotations and predicted structural information.
• The web interface facilitates data exploration and analysis, including links to mass spectrometry imaging data.

Conclusions:

• cNPDB represents a significant advancement for crustacean neuropeptidome research.
• The database serves as a valuable tool for comparative neuropeptide studies.
• This resource has the potential to advance our understanding of neuropeptide signaling.