Protein Data Bank facts for kids
 |
|
| Content | |
|---|---|
| Description | Protein structure X-ray crystallography NMR Structure Determination |
| Access | |
| Data format | PDB |
The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is like a huge online library. It stores information about the 3D shapes of tiny building blocks inside living things. These blocks are called proteins and nucleic acids. Think of them as tiny machines that do important jobs in your body.
Scientists from all over the world send their discoveries to the PDB. They use special tools to figure out these shapes. Two main tools are X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Anyone can look at this information for free online. The Worldwide Protein Data Bank, or wwPDB, helps manage this amazing collection.
Contents
Why the PDB is Important
The PDB is super helpful for scientists who study how living things work. It helps them understand the shapes of these tiny molecules. Knowing a molecule's shape helps scientists understand what it does. It also helps them create new medicines or treatments.
Sharing Scientific Discoveries
Many scientists must share their findings with the PDB. Big science magazines and groups that give money for research often require this. For example, the National Institutes of Health in the United States asks scientists to send their data here. This makes sure everyone can use the information.
How Data is Organized
The PDB holds the original information. But hundreds of other databases use this data too. These "secondary" databases organize the information in different ways.
For example, SCOP and CATH group structures by their shape. They also group them by how they might be related through evolution. Another database, Gene ontology, groups the data based on genes. This helps scientists find what they need quickly.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
Examples of protein structures from the PDB (created with UCSF Chimera)
-
Rate of Protein Structure Determination by Method and Year. MX = macromolecular crystallography, 3DEM = 3D Electron Microscopy.
See also
In Spanish: Protein Data Bank para niños
