The data universe of structural biology

Area of Science:

• Structural Biology
• Biophysics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The Protein Data Bank (PDB) has transitioned from a specialized crystallographer resource to a comprehensive global data repository.
• The evolution of the PDB reflects its increasing importance in serving the broader structural biology community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To chronicle the historical growth and development of the Protein Data Bank (PDB).
• To highlight the crucial role of community involvement in establishing PDB standards and policies.
• To explore the collaborative efforts between the PDB and other biophysics communities.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of the Protein Data Bank's growth and evolution.
• Review of community-driven development of standards and policies for structural data.
• Examination of inter-community collaborations for data resource integration.

Main Results:

• The PDB has expanded significantly, becoming a vital worldwide resource.
• Community participation has been instrumental in shaping PDB standards and data management.
• Collaborations are forming a network of interoperating biophysical data resources.

Conclusions:

• The PDB's growth demonstrates its central role in structural biology.
• Ongoing community collaboration is essential for advancing structural biology data resources.
• The developing network of data resources will enhance the determination and archiving of complex biological structures.