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Structural biology data archiving - where we are and what lies ahead
Gerard J Kleywegt1, Sameer Velankar1, Ardan Patwardhan1
1European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
FEBS Letters
|May 12, 2018
Summary
Structural biology archives like the Protein Data Bank store vital experimental data. This review highlights data sharing, validation methods, and integration with bioimaging for broader scientific access.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Biophysics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Public archives (Protein Data Bank, Electron Microscopy Data Bank, Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank) have preserved structural biology data for nearly 50 years.
- These archives are crucial for understanding molecular mechanisms of biological functions in health and disease.
- Increasingly complex techniques necessitate new archiving strategies and validation methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of public data archives in structural biology.
- To emphasize the importance of data validation for users and data producers.
- To discuss the integration of structural data with bioimaging and other biological data.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing public data archives in structural biology.
- Discussion of data validation principles and their application.
- Exploration of strategies for integrating diverse biological datasets.
Main Results:
- Established public archives are essential resources for structural biology research.
- Data validation is critical for ensuring the reliability and appropriate use of structural information.
- Integration efforts aim to enhance data accessibility and discoverability.
Conclusions:
- Public archives are fundamental to structural biology, supporting research into biological function.
- Robust validation methods are key to data integrity and user confidence.
- Integrating structural data with other biological datasets will broaden its utility and impact.
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