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Helmholtz Zentrum München - HMGU

Structural biology at Helmholtz Zentrum München

As a leading center in health research Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU) aims to preserve and improve the health of individuals by developing innovative strategies for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. To achieve these goals innovative methods in biomedical research are being developed and applied.

The Institute of Structural Biology at HMGU studies the spatial structures and molecular interactions of biological macromolecules, i.e. proteins, nucleic acids (RNAs and DNA) and their complexes. The detailed structural information forms a basis to understand molecular mechanisms of cellular processes and disease-linked pathways.

Researchers in the institute employ integrated structural biology methods to obtain a more complete description of the structure and dynamics of biological molecules in solution. We are using and developing modern solution- and solid-state NMR- spectroscopy techniques as well as X-ray crystallography to elucidate the structural details of complex biomolecules. These data are combined with complementary information from Small Angle X-ray and/or Neutron Scattering (SAXS/SANS), and biophysical techniques (i.e isothermal titration calorimetry, static and dynamic light scattering) to describe the structure-function relationships of biomolecules. Computational methods provide additional insight in the cases where obtaining precise experimental data is difficult.

The structural information provides an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of basic cellular pathways, and of molecular processes linked to human disease. Our studies focus on fundamental processes in the regulation of gene expression, cellular signal transduction and peroxisome biogenesis. In order to tackle large protein complexes and fibril structures, we develop and improve novel experimental techniques based on solution- and solid-state NMR. The molecular mechanisms studied are implicated in various diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes and cancer.

The structural data provide a basis for the rational drug design and the development of small molecule inhibitors as novel bioactive compounds. Thus, the results of our structural research is used to rationally guide the development of such molecules for therapeutic applications, also in the context of the CPA Helmholtz Wirkstoffforschung.

 

Publications

Hennig J, Militti C, Popowicz GM, Wang I, Sonntag M, Geerlof A, Gabel F, Gebauer F,  Sattler M
Structural basis for the assembly of the Sxl–UNR translation regulatory complex
(2014) Nature, 515:287-90 [Pubmed] [Press release (Helmholtz)]

Schlundt A, Heinz GA, Janowski R, Geerlof A, Stehle R, Heissmeyer V, Niessing D, and Sattler M
Structural basis for RNA recognition in roquin-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation.

(2014) Nat Struct Mol Biol 21, 671-8. [Pubmed] [press release]

Schilling F, Warner LR, Gershenzon NI, Skinner TE, Sattler M, Glaser SJ.
Next-Generation Heteronuclear Decoupling for High-Field Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy.
(2014) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. Mar 12. doi: 10.1002/anie.201400178 [Pubmed]

Karagöz, G.E.* ; Duarte, A.M.* ; Akoury, E.* ; Ippel, H.* ; Biernat, J.* ; Morán Luengo, T.* ; Radli, M.* ; Didenko, T.* ; Nordhues, B.A.* ; Veprintsev, D.B.* ; Dickey, C.A.* ; Mandelkow, E.-M.* ; Zweckstetter, M.* ; Boelens, R.* ; Madl, T. ; Rüdiger, S.G.*
Hsp90-tau complex reveals molecular basis for specificity in chaperone action.

(2014) Cell 156, 963-974

Mackereth CD, Madl T, Bonnal S, Simon B, Zanier K, Gasch A, Rybin V, Valcarcel J, and Sattler M
Multi-domain conformational selection underlies pre-mRNA splicing regulation by U2AF.
(2011) Nature 475, 408-11 [Pubmed] [Pressemitteilung Helmholtz Zentrum München]

 


Research Groups
  • Michael Sattler - Molecular recognition in the regulation of gene expression and signaling
    Solution state NMR, SAXS, SANS, integrated structural biology
  • Dierk Niessing - RNA localization and intracellular transport
    Crystallography
  • Bernd Reif - Solid-state NMR of amyloids and membrane proteins
    Solid-state NMR spectroscopy
  • Igor Tetko - Chemoinformatics & Chemical Biology
    Chemoinformatics
  • Tobias Madl - Structural Biology of Signal Transduction
    Solution state NMR Spectroscopy, SAXS, SANS, integrated structural biology
  • Franz Hagn - Structural Membrane Biochemistry
    multidimensional NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography

Infrastructure and unique expertise
  • Bayerisches NMR Zentrum http://www.bnmrz.org
  • Small X-ray Scattering (bench top instrument at TU München/SFB1035)
  • Small Angle Neutron Scattering (collaborations with MLZ/TU München & ILL Grenoble)

Training
30.08.2012

Coordination

Prof. Dr. Michael Sattler

Project management

Dr. Eva Schlosser

Institute of Structural Biology
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Ingolstädter Landstr. 1
85764 Neuherberg

 

+49 (0)89 3187-2908