Chemistry Central Blog
Open database for structural biologists
Proteopedia, a new open database for biologists and chemists, has been recently launched. The project's scope is the "[collection and dissemination of] structural biological and biological knowledge about proteins, RNA, DNA, and their assemblies and interacting small molecules in a manner that is... accessible...".
At present the database - which was created in 2007 by Joel Sussman, Eran Hodis and Jaime Prilusky, researchers at The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel - has around 50,000 searchable entries, including one page for each entry in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Most of the pages are titled with a four-character PDB identification code, and the database is updated regularly to assimilate new data released by the PDB. In addition to those identified with a PDB code, there are also entries dedicated to particular molecules and topics, such as Glycine, Antibodies and Serine Protease.
The database is another example of numerous new projects whose aim is to provide open data whilst also embracing new technologies for their display. The project's broader three-fold aims are thus:
- To serve as a forum for scientists to share, retrieve and discuss information related to proteins, macromolecules, and small molecules and chemicals of interest.
- To continue to develop the concept of tying text to three-dimensional, interactive images.
- To maintain low barriers for contribution.
Posted by Gino D'Oca at 11:53 Comments (0)
