Worldwide Protein Data Bank biocuration supporting open access to high-quality 3D structural biology data

Area of Science:

• Structural biology
• Biochemistry
• Molecular modeling

Background:

• The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a critical resource for structural biology.
• It archives experimentally determined 3D structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and complex assemblies.
• Accurate structural data is fundamental for understanding biological function and disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a centralized, publicly accessible repository for macromolecular structural data.
• To facilitate research in structural biology, drug discovery, and related fields.
• To ensure the long-term archiving and dissemination of structural biology data.

Main Methods:

• Data submission by researchers worldwide.
• Quality control and validation of deposited structures.
• Standardized data formatting and archiving protocols.

Main Results:

• A continuously growing archive of diverse biological macromolecular structures.
• Availability of atomic coordinates, experimental parameters, and associated metadata.
• Integration with other biological databases and resources.

Conclusions:

• The PDB remains an indispensable resource for the scientific community.
• Continued data deposition and curation are essential for advancing biological research.
• The PDB supports a wide range of applications from basic science to translational medicine.