image: 50 Years of PDB

Celebrating 50 Years of the Protein Data Bank Archive

Celebrating 50 Years of the Protein Data Bank Archive

In 1971, the structural biology community established the single worldwide archive for macromolecular structure data–the Protein Data Bank (PDB). From its inception, the PDB has embraced a culture of open access, leading to its widespread use by the research community. PDB data are used by hundreds of data resources and millions of users exploring fundamental biology, energy, and biomedicine.

Structural biology and structural bioinformatics have had an enormous impact on our understanding of the mechanism and function of biological macromolecules. The PDB acts as a custodian for all these data, representing a repository of the vast majority of the achievements and milestones of the structural biology community.

In 2021, wwPDB celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the PDB with symposia, materials, and more.



Journal Collections and Articles



How the PDB changed biology

Issue contains reviews that celebrates scientific areas profoundly touched by the creation of the PDB


The PDB in JBC

Collection of Journal of Biological Chemistry publications that highlights some seminal PDB structures


Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

Vol 28, Issue 5, May 2021

Collection: PDB 50th Anniversary: celebrating the future of structural biology


ASBMB Today

Vol 20, Issue 3, March 2021

 The Journal of Biochemistry PDB 50th Anniversary Issue – 50 years of Protein Data Bank in JB


The Journal of Biochemistry

Vol 171, Issue 1, January 2022