IUPHAR DATABASE OF RECEPTORS AND ION CHANNELS

Welcome to the official database of the IUPHAR Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification.

Incorporating detailed pharmacological, functional and pathophysiological information on G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Voltage-Gated Ion Channels, Ligand-Gated Ion Channels and Nuclear Hormone Receptors.

Database content:

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* Orphans are defined as proteins having similarity to receptors but whose endogenous ligands have not yet been conclusively identified.

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Latest news:

New subcommittee chairs appointed
- NC-IUPHAR and the IUPHAR database team would like to welcome several new subcommittee chairs who have recently been appointed:
  - Angiotensin: Walter Thomas (University of Queensland)
  - Complement peptide: Peter Monk (Sheffield University Medical School)
  - Galanin: Andrew Gundlach (University of Melbourne)
  - Ghrelin: Birgitte Holst (University of Copenhagen)
  - Platelet-activating factor: Ewa Ninio (Université Pierre et Marie Curie)
  - Protease-activated: JoAnn Trejo (University of California, San Diego)
  - Tachykinin: Susan Leeman (Boston University School of Medicine) and Steven Douglas (University of Pennsylvania Medical School)
  - Urotensin: Hubert Vaudry (University of Rouen)

Recent database updates (July 2012) include:

GPCR updates:
- Neuropeptide FF/neuropeptide AF receptor pages and introduction, Neurotensin receptor pages and introduction and Vasopressin and oxytocin receptors introduction;
- Updated nomenclature for Anaphylatoxin receptors. Comment by Peter Monk, subcommittee chair:
  - "The term ‘anaphylatoxin’ suggests a very limited and exclusively pathogenic role for C5a and C3a, which is not now supported by the evidence. Many fragments are produced from complement proteins and to differentiate C5a, C4a and C3a from these, we are suggesting that ‘complement peptide’ should be the official term. In line with other receptors in the IUPHAR database, we suggest that the receptors for the complement peptides are termed C3a receptor and C5a₁ receptor with the second C5a receptor, C5L2 (C5a receptor-like protein 2), also known as GPR77 (G protein receptor 77), renamed as C5a₂. This better describes the signalling functions of this receptor whereas GPR77 is inappropriate because there is no evidence to suggest that G proteins are at all involved in the functions of C5a₂."
  - Database entry: Complement peptide receptors
LGIC updates:
- Full annotation is now available for the P2X3 subunit.
Ligand updates:
- International Nonproprietary Names (INN) added for 650 chemicals. An INN is the official nonproprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance by the World Health Organization (WHO);
- Find peptides with similar sequences by clicking on the 'Similar ligands' tab on ligand pages. Endogenous peptides encoded by the same gene or orthologous genes in other species are displayed in the 'Related Sequences' table. Other peptides, including synthetic fragments and other endogenous peptides, are available in the 'Other Similar Sequences' table;
- The Ligand List now includes separate lists of 'Endogenous Peptides' (known to be encoded by genes in human, mouse and rat) and a list of 'Other Peptides' (encoded by genes in other species or synthetically derived);
- The category 'Small organics' has been renamed 'Metabolites' to better reflect its content. This category includes organic molecules produced by the life processes of animals, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, and their close analogues.

Useful links:

	BPS/IUPHAR Guide To PHARMACOLOGY - A FREE online portal to quantitative information on drug targets and the prescription medicines and experimental dugs that act on them from the BJP Guide to Receptors and Channels (GRAC) and IUPHAR-DB.
	genenames.org - A curated repository of HGNC-approved gene nomenclature
	Publisher of NC-IUPHAR nomenclature reports and reviews
	Publisher of NC-IUPHAR reviews and featured articles

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We welcome all questions, comments and suggestions - Email us: curators@iuphar-db.org

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Page last updated 1st Oct 2012