The Transporter Classification Database (TCDB): 2021 update

Abstract

The Transporter Classification Database (TCDB; tcdb.org) is a freely accessible reference resource, which provides functional, structural, mechanistic, medical and biotechnological information about transporters from organisms of all types. TCDB is the only transport protein classification database adopted by the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) and now (October 1, 2020) consists of 20 653 proteins classified in 15 528 non-redundant transport systems with 1567 tabulated 3D structures, 18 336 reference citations describing 1536 transporter families, of which 26% are members of 82 recognized superfamilies. Overall, this is an increase of over 50% since the last published update of the database in 2016. This comprehensive update of the database contents and features include (i) adoption of a chemical ontology for substrates of transporters, (ii) inclusion of new superfamilies, (iii) a domain-based characterization of transporter families for the identification of new members as well as functional and evolutionary relationships between families, (iv) development of novel software to facilitate curation and use of the database, (v) addition of new subclasses of transport systems including 11 novel types of channels and 3 types of group translocators and (vi) the inclusion of many man-made (artificial) transmembrane pores/channels and carriers.