PDB Management by the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics

The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB) works with community stakeholders to preserve and deliver rigorously-validated, expertly-biocurated, three-dimensional (3D) biostructure information archived in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to many millions of Depositors and Data Consumers worldwide at no charge and with no limitations on usage. Exploration of these experimentally-determined structures of proteins and nucleic acids via RCSB PDB is enabled by state-of- the-art data analysis, visualization, and download tools. RCSB PDB supports many millions of basic and applied researchers, and postdoctoral scholars, graduate students and other trainees in fundamental biology, health, energy, and biotechnology. RCSB PDB will continue to safeguard structural biology data generated with NIH funding, NIH-funded synchrotron beamlines, and Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET data collection facilities supported by the NIH. During the next funding period (2024-2028), RCSB PDB will address four overarching challenges. Challenge 1: Sustaining RCSB PDB Core Operations that encompass managing organic growth and increasing complexity of experimentally-determined 3D biostructures; enabling open access to all PDB structures alongside one billion Computed Structure Models; supporting many millions of PDB Depositors and Data Consumers worldwide; training individuals with diverse scientific interests and data exploration needs; and maintaining modern cyberinfrastructure. Challenge 2: Managing the deluge of 3D biostructure data and metadata coming from rapidly evolving structure determination methods relying on X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs), Serial Crystallography (SX), and Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM) and Cryo-Electron Tomography (Cryo-ET). Challenge 3: Improving 3D biostructure data quality by strengthening validation of new and existing experimental structures; implementing community-agreed validation standards for XFEL, SX, Cryo-EM, and Cryo-ET; and remediating structures already stored in the PDB archive. Challenge 4: Unifying data from the PDB-Dev prototype archive with PDB holdings to support the long- term preservation, validation, biocuration, exploration, and data delivery for the growing number of Integrative or Hybrid methods (IHM) structures currently not eligible for archiving in the PDB.