2003, Vol. 31, No. 1 | Brigitte Boeckmann*, Amos Bairoch, Rolf Apweiler1, Marie-Claude Blatter, Anne Estreicher, Elisabeth Gasteiger, Maria J. Martin1, Karine Michoud, Claire O'Donovan1, Isabelle Phan, Sandrine Pilbou and Michel Schneider
The article provides an overview of the SWISS-PROT protein knowledgebase and its supplement TrEMBL, published in 2003. SWISS-PROT is a high-quality, manually curated protein sequence and knowledge database that integrates experimental results, computed features, and sometimes contradictory conclusions. It provides detailed annotations for all species but focuses on human and model organisms to ensure high-quality annotation. TrEMBL, a computer-annotated supplement, includes sequences not represented in SWISS-PROT, with a focus on rapid data availability. The article highlights projects like the Human Proteomics Initiative (HPI), which aims to annotate all known human protein sequences, and the High-quality Automated and Manual Annotation of microbial Proteomes (HAMAP) project, which automates annotation for microbial proteomes. The database also integrates with other specialized databases and offers cross-references to enhance navigation and understanding of protein-related information. The article discusses the challenges and solutions in maintaining high-quality annotation, the importance of standardized nomenclature, and the integration of new data sources. It concludes by emphasizing the continuous enhancement of SWISS-PROT to keep up with the growing knowledge in proteomics.The article provides an overview of the SWISS-PROT protein knowledgebase and its supplement TrEMBL, published in 2003. SWISS-PROT is a high-quality, manually curated protein sequence and knowledge database that integrates experimental results, computed features, and sometimes contradictory conclusions. It provides detailed annotations for all species but focuses on human and model organisms to ensure high-quality annotation. TrEMBL, a computer-annotated supplement, includes sequences not represented in SWISS-PROT, with a focus on rapid data availability. The article highlights projects like the Human Proteomics Initiative (HPI), which aims to annotate all known human protein sequences, and the High-quality Automated and Manual Annotation of microbial Proteomes (HAMAP) project, which automates annotation for microbial proteomes. The database also integrates with other specialized databases and offers cross-references to enhance navigation and understanding of protein-related information. The article discusses the challenges and solutions in maintaining high-quality annotation, the importance of standardized nomenclature, and the integration of new data sources. It concludes by emphasizing the continuous enhancement of SWISS-PROT to keep up with the growing knowledge in proteomics.