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Worldwide Protein Data Bank

Worldwide PDB (wwPDB)
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About

Launched: 2003
Record Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Data resource
Open scholarly dataset
Repository service
The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is an archive of experimentally determined three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules that serves a global community of researchers, educators, and students. The data contained in the archive include atomic coordinates, crystallographic structure factors and NMR experimental data. Aside from coordinates, each deposition also includes the names of molecules, primary and secondary structure information, sequence database references, where appropriate, and ligand and biological assembly information, details about data collection and structure solution, and bibliographic citations.

Domain Relevance

  • Biological sciences

Mission

Sustain freely accessible, interoperating Core Archives of structure data and metadata for biological macromolecules as an enduring public good to promote basic and applied research and education across the sciences.
The wwPDB core archives include the Protein Data Bank (PDB), Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB) and Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank (BMRB).
wwPDB partners maintain a single PDB archive of macromolecular structural data that is freely and publicly available to the global community.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Data Statement

Implemented
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Technical Attribute Statements

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses

Standards

Metadata

PDBx/mmCIF - https://mmcif.wwpdb.org/

Persistent Identifier

  • ORCiD

Community Engagement

Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute to user research or user testing
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

The Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) consists of organizations that act as deposition, data processing and distribution centers for PDB data. Members are: RCSB PDB (USA), PDBe (Europe) and PDBj (Japan), and BMRB (USA).

Policies

Bylaws

Implemented
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Privacy Policy

Implemented
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Governance Records

Implemented
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Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
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Policy Statements

Access Conditions

  • Open without restrictions

Community Governance

  • None

Additional Information

Organizational History

Since 1971, the Protein Data Bank archive (PDB) has served as the single repository of information about the 3D structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and complex assemblies.
The wwPDB was founded in 2003 by RCSB PDB (USA), PDBe (Europe) and PDBj (Japan). In 2006, BMRB (USA) joined the wwPDB. EMDB (UK) joined in 2021. wwPDB formalises the international character of the structure data archiving and ensures that the archives remain uniform.
By providing a formal mechanism for standardising the presentation of structure data, software developers and data users will be assured of consistent data. At the same time, this agreement is expected to allow individual creativity in how the data are presented and made available to the community.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Distributed institutional partnership

Current Affiliations

Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB Organization)
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
Protein Data Bank Japan (PDBj Organization)
Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank(BMRB Organization)

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Contributions

Revenue Sources

  • Grants (private)
  • Grants (public)
  • In-kind contributions
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