Proteins are the molecular building blocks and engines of the cell, and are involved in almost all processes of life. The scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) investigate the structure of proteins and how they function – from individual molecules up to whole organisms. With about 850 employees coming from 45 nations, the MPIB is one of the largest institutes within the Max Planck Society. In currently eight departments and about 25 research groups, scientists contribute to the newest findings in the areas of biochemistry, cell biology, structural biology, biophysics and molecular science. They are supported by several scientific, administrative and technical service facilities.
Cell Membrane is Patterned Like a Patchwork Quilt - Max Planck researchers clarify the structure of the cell membrane
As the interface between the cell and its environment, the cell membrane, which consists of fats and proteins, fulfils a variety of vital functions. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich have performed the first comprehensive analysis of the molecular structure of this boundary layer, and revealed precisely how it is organised. In yeast cells, the entire membrane is made up of independent domains, each containing just one or a few protein types. If a protein is relocated to an inappropriate domain, it may even fail to function. The study shows that the membrane is a kind of patchwork quilt and should help scientists to gain a better understanding of basic cellular processes.
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| Wed, 16.05.2012 17:15
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LMU, SFB 914; Seminar Series SFB 914 Attention! The seminar is in the city center. |
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Frederic Geissmann Kings College London The origins of myeloid cells |
LMU, Inst. of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology, Pettenkoferstr. 14, 80336 Munich Lecture Hall F 108 ("Kleiner Hörsaal Physiologie") Host: Steffen Massberg |
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