David Richardson (biochemist)

David Richardson is a biochemist best known for his contributions to the fields of protein structure prediction, validation, and analysis. He is a research professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Duke University.

Richardson's research focuses on the development and application of methods for understanding protein structure at the atomic level. He has been instrumental in the creation of widely used software tools and databases for analyzing and visualizing protein structures, including:

• MolProbity: A comprehensive structure validation server that assesses the stereochemical quality of protein structures, identifying and quantifying potential errors and areas for improvement. It uses a variety of criteria, including clash scores, Ramachandran outliers, and rotamer outliers.

• KiNG: A molecular graphics program designed for interactive visualization and validation of biomolecular structures. KiNG is often used in conjunction with MolProbity to examine and refine structures based on MolProbity's analyses.

• The Richardson Lab's Protein Geometry Definition: Richardson and his colleagues have meticulously defined and refined geometric standards for protein structures. These standards are based on statistical analyses of high-resolution crystal structures and provide a foundation for structure validation methods.

Richardson's work has had a significant impact on the protein structure community, helping researchers to improve the accuracy and reliability of protein structures used in various applications, including drug discovery, protein engineering, and understanding the mechanisms of biological processes. His publications are widely cited and his software tools are essential resources for structural biologists worldwide.