The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a database for experimentally determined structures of biomacromolecules. To date, there are >230,000 structures of proteins and nucleic acids in the PDB, which celebrated its 50th year in 2021. Throughout its existence, it drove the development of structural biology as a field. PTP1B, a founding member of the human protein tyrosine phosphatase superfamily, is an interesting case study. The first PTP to be purified, PTP1B is also the first one to be structurally characterized. The first crystal structure of PTP1B was deposited in the PDB in 1994 and now accounts for >400 entries. It has served not only as a model to study PTP structures but also as a model system for the study of protein structure and dynamics. Examination of PTP1B structures within the PDB tells a story that reflects the evolution of structural biology as it now enters its dynamic era.
