RCSB Protein Data Bank

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) was established in 1971 as the 1st open access digital data resource in all of biology and medicine. It is today a leading global resource for experimental data central to scientific discovery. Through an internet information portal and downloadable data archive, the PDB provides access to 3D structure data for large biological molecules (proteins, DNA, and RNA). These are the molecules of life, found in all organisms on the planet. Knowing the 3D structure of a biological macromolecule is essential for understanding its role in human and animal health and disease, its function in plants and food and energy production, and its importance to other topics related to global prosperity and sustainability. RCSB PDB operates the US data center for the global PDB archive, and makes PDB data available at no charge to all data consumers without limitations on usage. The Vision of the RCSB PDB is to enable open access to the accumulating knowledge of 3D structure, function, and evolution of biological macromolecules, expanding the frontiers of fundamental biology, biomedicine, and biotechnology. Recognized experts in fields, including but not limited to, structural biology, cell and molecular biology, computational biology, information technology, and education serve as advisors to the RCSB PDB.