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The Protein Data Bank: unifying the archive
John Westbrook1, Zukang Feng, Shri Jain
1Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Chemistry, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8087, USA.
Nucleic Acids Research
|December 26, 2001
Summary
The Protein Data Bank (PDB) now offers a validated, uniform archive of macromolecular structural data. This includes mmCIF files and a converter tool (CIFTr) for broader accessibility and software support.
Area of Science:
- Structural Biology
- Bioinformatics
- Data Archiving
Background:
- The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is the primary global repository for macromolecular structural data.
- Ensuring data integrity and accessibility is crucial for biological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the validation and release of a uniform data archive for the PDB.
- To enhance data accessibility and support for the scientific community.
Main Methods:
- Validation of all data within the PDB archive.
- Creation and release of a comprehensive collection of mmCIF data files.
- Development of a utility application (CIFTr) for format conversion.
Main Results:
- A uniform mmCIF data archive for the PDB has been successfully produced.
- The CIFTr application facilitates conversion from mmCIF to PDB format.
- Improved data standardization and accessibility for biological macromolecular structures.
Conclusions:
- The PDB has achieved a significant milestone in data standardization and validation.
- The new uniform archive and conversion tool enhance usability for researchers worldwide.
- This initiative supports the advancement of structural biology and related fields.