Structure & molecular mechanisms

Structure & molecular mechanisms

Identification of the structural basis of interactions in protein complexes & characterization of resulting functions.

This focus aims at fundamental questions concerning the folding and association of proteins and extends the current knowledge of the structure and function of functional dynamic protein complexes. CPA scientists investigate systems of interacting proteins: the interactions give rise to new functions that are not solely be explained by the individual functions of the individual building blocks. In particular, the molecular mechanisms of the dynamic interactions of cytoskeletal proteins, chaperone complexes and antibody assembly are at the center of interest. With the combination of purely structural biochemical methods such as X-ray diffraction, SAXS and NMR with single-molecule techniques, spectroscopic methods, electron microscopy and imaging techniques, we gain unique insights into the dynamic and structural properties of the protein properties of the protein complexes in focus.