Evette, I think the primary issue is what kind of analysis was being reported on. That is what I look for when I review a manuscript. If the authors are doing a broad structural analysis (homology of TIM barrels, X-ray refinement protocols, etc.), I wouldn't expect citations beyond stating the PDB entries used. However, if this was a primary structural analysis of a macromolecule, I would expect that a discussion of the structural comparison would include references to earlier work(s) on related molecules, but I have seen this happen where a group reinvents the wheel (sometimes rather badly) because they don't take the time to look at the literature, just a DALI run and a PDB search. It is just bad science not to discuss what earlier researchers have done to put your work in context.
Just my 2 cents worth, Michael **************************************************************** R. Michael Garavito, Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 603 Wilson Rd., Rm. 513 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1319 Office: (517) 355-9724 Lab: (517) 353-9125 FAX: (517) 353-9334 Email: rmgarav...@gmail.com **************************************************************** On Jul 25, 2012, at 9:15 AM, Tim Gruene wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Dear Evette, > > the PDB lists the citation when you enter the PDB-ID in the search > mask of any of the web-interfaces, which is much easier for the reader > than typing the information from the list of references, i.e. all > information is in the article by mentioning the PDB-ID. Why do you > consider it a matter of courtesy to re-cite the structural work? > > Cheers, > Tim > > On 07/25/12 14:33, Radisky, Evette S., Ph.D. wrote: >> Dear bb, >> >> This morning as I scanned an accepted manuscript from a >> well-respected-but-not-particularly-glamorous journal that >> publishes many macromolecular structures, I came across a brief >> mention of homology and rmsd with a published structure listed by >> PDB accession number, but no citation of the primary reference for >> this structure. (OK, so I wouldn't have noticed or cared had it not >> been one of mine.) The paper did not have a lot of references, so >> it was not due to limitation in the number of refs permitted. >> >> I have always thought it a matter of professional courtesy to cite >> the appropriate reference when one uses and mentions a structure >> from the PDB, but as I think back, I realize no one explicitly told >> me this-- it is just an assumption that I made. Maybe I am the one >> with unrealistic expectations here? Is there a general consensus >> among crystallographers on this practice? >> >> Thanks! Evette >> >> Evette S. Radisky, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Mayo Clinic Cancer >> Center Griffin Cancer Research Building, Rm 310 4500 San Pablo >> Road Jacksonville, FL 32224 (904) 953-6372 >> >> > > - -- > - -- > Dr Tim Gruene > Institut fuer anorganische Chemie > Tammannstr. 4 > D-37077 Goettingen > > GPG Key ID = A46BEE1A > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.12 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ > > iD8DBQFQD/FSUxlJ7aRr7hoRAsCRAKDBB5CprXaR1v2QtA57n+3LmVPbAACfegbW > I/IlD77jIjoUXgFCiMo9tdI= > =xqVY > -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----