diff --git a/graphein/protein/features/nodes/dssp.py b/graphein/protein/features/nodes/dssp.py
index 863e4e53..e5341390 100644
--- a/graphein/protein/features/nodes/dssp.py
+++ b/graphein/protein/features/nodes/dssp.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def process_dssp_df(df: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
     return df
 
 
-def add_dssp_df(G: nx.Graph, dssp_config: Optional[DSSPConfig]) -> nx.Graph:
+def add_dssp_df(G: nx.Graph, dssp_config: Optional[DSSPConfig], new_pdb_path: str = None) -> nx.Graph:
     """
     Construct DSSP dataframe and add as graph level variable to protein graph
 
@@ -102,12 +102,18 @@ def add_dssp_df(G: nx.Graph, dssp_config: Optional[DSSPConfig]) -> nx.Graph:
     :param G: nx.Graph
     :param dssp_config: DSSPConfig object. Specifies which executable to run. Located in graphein.protein.config
     :type dssp_config: DSSPConfig, optional
+    :param new_pdb_path: specifies a new path the local pdb file in case it was moved.
+    :type dssp_config: DSSPConfig, optional
     :return: Protein graph with DSSP dataframe added
     :rtype: nx.Graph
     """
 
     config = G.graph["config"]
-    pdb_id = G.graph["pdb_id"]
+    pdb_code = G.graph["pdb_code"]
+    if new_pdb_path:
+        pdb_path = new_pdb_path
+    else:
+        pdb_path = G.graph["pdb_path"]
 
     # Extract DSSP executable
     executable = dssp_config.executable
@@ -117,11 +123,17 @@ def add_dssp_df(G: nx.Graph, dssp_config: Optional[DSSPConfig]) -> nx.Graph:
         executable
     ), "DSSP must be on PATH and marked as an executable"
 
-    # Check for existence of pdb file. If not, download it.
-    if not os.path.isfile(config.pdb_dir / (pdb_id + ".pdb")):
-        pdb_file = download_pdb(config, pdb_id)
+    if pdb_code:
+        # Check for existence of pdb file. If not, download it.
+        if not os.path.isfile(config.pdb_dir / (pdb_code + ".pdb")):
+            pdb_file = download_pdb(config, pdb_code)
+        else:
+            pdb_file = config.pdb_dir / (pdb_code + ".pdb")
     else:
-        pdb_file = config.pdb_dir / (pdb_id + ".pdb")
+        assert os.path.isfile(pdb_path), f"The PDB file could not be found under the path: " \
+                                                    f" {G.graph['pdb_path']}. If the file was moved, specify the new " \
+                                                    f" path using the parameter new_pdb_path"
+        pdb_file = pdb_path
 
     if config.verbose:
         print(f"Using DSSP executable '{executable}'")
diff --git a/graphein/protein/graphs.py b/graphein/protein/graphs.py
index 2ac73c25..fa58929d 100644
--- a/graphein/protein/graphs.py
+++ b/graphein/protein/graphs.py
@@ -69,8 +69,9 @@ def read_pdb_to_dataframe(
     :returns: ``pd.DataFrame`` containing protein structure
     :rtype: pd.DataFrame
     """
-    if pdb_code is None and pdb_path is None:
-        raise NameError("One of pdb_code or pdb_path must be specified!")
+
+    assert (pdb_code and not pdb_path) or (not pdb_code and pdb_path), 'Either a PDB ID or a path to a local PDB file' \
+                                                                       ' must be specified to read a PDB'
 
     atomic_df = (
         PandasPdb().read_pdb(pdb_path)
@@ -349,8 +350,10 @@ def select_chains(
 def initialise_graph_with_metadata(
     protein_df: pd.DataFrame,
     raw_pdb_df: pd.DataFrame,
-    pdb_id: str,
     granularity: str,
+    name: Optional[str] = None,
+    pdb_code: Optional[str] = None,
+    pdb_path: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> nx.Graph:
     """
     Initializes the nx Graph object with initial metadata.
@@ -359,17 +362,33 @@ def initialise_graph_with_metadata(
     :type protein_df: pd.DataFrame
     :param raw_pdb_df: Unprocessed dataframe of protein structure for comparison and traceability downstream.
     :type raw_pdb_df: pd.DataFrame
-    :param pdb_id: PDB Accession code.
-    :type pdb_id: str
     :param granularity: Granularity of the graph (eg ``"atom"``, ``"CA"``, ``"CB"`` etc or ``"centroid"``).
         See: :const:`~graphein.protein.config.GRAPH_ATOMS` and :const:`~graphein.protein.config.GRANULARITY_OPTS`.
     :type granularity: str
+    :param name: given name for graph
+    :type name: str
+    :param pdb_code: PDB ID / Accession code, if the PDB is available on the PDB database.
+    :type pdb_code: str
+    :param pdb_path: path to local PDB file.
+    :type pdb_path: str
     :return: Returns initial protein structure graph with metadata.
     :rtype: nx.Graph
     """
+
+    assert (pdb_code and not pdb_path) or (not pdb_code and pdb_path), 'Either a PDB ID or a path to a local PDB file' \
+                                                                   ' must be specified to read a PDB'
+
+    # Get name for graph if no name was provided
+    if not name:
+        if pdb_path:
+            name = get_protein_name_from_filename(pdb_path)
+        else:
+            name = pdb_code
+
     G = nx.Graph(
-        name=pdb_id,
-        pdb_id=pdb_id,
+        name=name,
+        pdb_code=pdb_code,
+        pdb_path=pdb_path,
         chain_ids=list(protein_df["chain_id"].unique()),
         pdb_df=protein_df,
         raw_pdb_df=raw_pdb_df,
@@ -501,6 +520,7 @@ def compute_edges(
 
 def construct_graph(
     config: Optional[ProteinGraphConfig] = None,
+    name: Optional[str] = None,
     pdb_path: Optional[str] = None,
     pdb_code: Optional[str] = None,
     chain_selection: str = "all",
@@ -520,9 +540,11 @@ def construct_graph(
 
     :param config: :class:`~graphein.protein.config.ProteinGraphConfig` object. If None, defaults to config in ``graphein.protein.config``.
     :type config: graphein.protein.config.ProteinGraphConfig, optional
+    :param name: an optional given name for the graph. the PDB ID or PDB file name will be used if not specified.
+    :type name: str, optional
     :param pdb_path: Path to ``pdb_file`` to build graph from. Default is ``None``.
     :type pdb_path: str, optional
-    :param pdb_code: 4-character PDB accession pdb_code to build graph from. Default is ``None``.
+    :param pdb_code: 4-character PDB pdb ID / accession code  to build graph from. Default is ``None``.
     :type pdb_code: str, optional
     :param chain_selection: String of polypeptide chains to include in graph. E.g ``"ABDF"`` or ``"all"``. Default is ``"all"``.
     :type chain_selection: str
@@ -540,14 +562,13 @@ def construct_graph(
     :type: nx.Graph
     """
 
+    assert (pdb_code and not pdb_path) or (not pdb_code and pdb_path), 'Either a PDB ID or a path to a local PDB file' \
+                                                                   ' must be specified to construct a graph'
+
     # If no config is provided, use default
     if config is None:
         config = ProteinGraphConfig()
 
-    # Get name from pdb_file is no pdb_code is provided
-    if pdb_path and (pdb_code is None):
-        pdb_code = get_protein_name_from_filename(pdb_path)
-
     # If config params are provided, overwrite them
     config.protein_df_processing_functions = (
         df_processing_funcs
@@ -589,7 +610,9 @@ def construct_graph(
     g = initialise_graph_with_metadata(
         protein_df=protein_df,
         raw_pdb_df=raw_df.df["ATOM"],
-        pdb_id=pdb_code,
+        name=name,
+        pdb_code=pdb_code,
+        pdb_path=pdb_path,
         granularity=config.granularity,
     )
     # Add nodes to graph