What is the key difference between RCSB PDB and Prism?

RCSB PDB belongs to the Biology & Bioinformatics category with local stdio execution, while Prism belongs to the Biology & Bioinformatics category with local stdio execution.

How do I install RCSB PDB or Prism in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are RCSB PDB and Prism free or paid?

RCSB PDB operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Prism operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

RCSB PDB lists 35 tools with 0 views and 3 GitHub stars. Prism lists 0 tools with 2 views and 3 GitHub stars.

Can I use both RCSB PDB and Prism together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

RCSB PDB vs Prism

In-depth architectural comparison of the RCSB PDB and Prism MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

RCSB PDB

Biology & Bioinformatics · Local stdio

Quality: 53/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Prism

Biology & Bioinformatics · Local stdio

Quality: 44/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose RCSB PDB if you need specialized Biology & Bioinformatics tools running via a local process. Choose Prism if your workspace requires Biology & Bioinformatics integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose RCSB PDB when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Biology & Bioinformatics domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: rcsb_list_pdb_search_attributes, rcsb_find_go_terms, rcsb_find_interpro_domains.

Explore RCSB PDB Details

Choose Prism when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Biology & Bioinformatics domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Prism Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	R RCSB PDB Biology & Bioinformatics	Prism Biology & Bioinformatics
Summary	MCP server to search, inspect, and cross-reference RCSB Protein Data Bank structures	Local-first repo intelligence for agents: DNA, health, blast radius, and Dispatch jobs.
Category & Scope	Biology & Bioinformatics	Biology & Bioinformatics
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

RCSB PDB Tools (35)

rcsb_list_pdb_search_attributes

Discover searchable attribute paths, types, and operators. `schema="structure"` (default, ~677) or `schema="chemical"` (~57: `chem_comp.*`, `drugbank_info.*`, ...).

rcsb_find_go_terms

Resolve a free-text molecular function / biological process / cellular component to Gene Ontology ids (via EBI QuickGO), annotated with PDB entry counts — then search by `rcsb_polymer_entity_annotation.annotation_lineage.id`.

rcsb_find_interpro_domains

Resolve a free-text protein domain / family / fold to InterPro ids (via EBI InterPro API), annotated with PDB entry counts — then search by `rcsb_polymer_entity_annotation.annotation_id`.

rcsb_find_enzyme_classes

Resolve a free-text enzyme / reaction to Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers (via EBI Search/IntEnz), annotated with PDB entry counts — then search by `rcsb_polymer_entity.rcsb_ec_lineage.id` (hierarchical).

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

RCSB PDB Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rcsb-pdb-2": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "rcsb-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Prism Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "prism": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@repo-prism/cli"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

RCSB PDB is categorized under Biology & Bioinformatics and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Prism belongs to Biology & Bioinformatics using local stdio subprocess. Select RCSB PDB when you need capabilities focused on biology & bioinformatics and Prism when you require tools for biology & bioinformatics.

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