Search the PDB for homo- and hetero-multimer structures

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The following Advanced Search options (listed under Structure Features) can be combined to find homo- and hetero-multimer structures in the PDB:

• Number of Chains (Biological Assembly): specifies the number of polymeric chains in a multimer
• Number of Entities: limits the number of unique polymeric units (protein, DNA, or RNA) in a multimer
• Structure Features/Macromolecule Type: selects the type(s) of macromolecule to be included in the multimer (protein, DNA, RNA, and/or DNA/RNA hybrid).

Different examples are shown below, with the query constraints selected. Click on the image to enlarge.

Example 1: Find all homodimers and heterodimers that only contain protein. The results set will include entries that contain exactly two protein chains. The search entries that contain only one or more than two protein chains, and excludes nucleic acids.

Example 2: Find entries containing only protein heterodimers. The results set will include entries that contain two different protein chains. Entries containing homo-multimers, nucleic acid chains, or more than two protein chains will be excluded.

Example 3: Find entries containing only protein homotetramers. The results set will include entries that contain exactly four identical protein chains. Entries containing heterotetramers, nucleic acid chains, or any number of chains other than four will be excluded.

Example 4: Find protein homodimers bound to DNA. The results set will include entries that contain DNA (mostly duplexes) bound to two copies of the same protein chain (a dimer).

Additional information about Advanced Search is available.