Schwille

Which criteria does a synthetically created cell have to meet to be considered alive? What are the minimal requirements for individual functions of such a cell? Questions like these drive Petra Schwille and her team at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry. Now the scientists have shown that it only takes five biological building blocks to generate cell-like structures that exhibit autonomous motion while consuming energy. The discovery of these pulsating, beating vesicles came as a surprise, since initially the scientists wanted to investigate processes related to cell division. The study was published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. more

Petra Schwille, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, has been awarded the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art. She received the highest accolade of the Free State of Bavaria for her outstanding scientific achievements. After her groundbreaking work on the biophysics of single molecules, Petra Schwille has for several years been exploring the origin of life. With her research group she wants to construct a biological system from individual building blocks that is able to divide itself – an important step towards the primordial cell. Schwille said: “The award of the Maximilian Order is a particular honor for me, because I feel very much connected to the great scientific location of Munich and the Free State of Bavaria.”The Maximilian Order will be awarded on December 17 at the Munich Residence. more

Vital processes such as cell division must be stable under various conditions. The correct  distribution of proteins in the cell is crucial here. In cooperation with colleagues from the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry in Martinsried, have now investigated which mechanisms are responsible for the pattern formation to become robust against variations in protein concentration.To do this, scientists used a combination of mathematical modeling and an experimental, minimal approach in the lab to understand the basic principles. The results were published in the journal PNAS. more

The European Molecular Biology Organization EMBO stands for Europe-wide cutting-edge research in the life sciences. Together with 50 outstanding scientists, Petra Schwille, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), and Wolfgang Zachariae, MPIB Research Group Leader, were elected new EMBO members. Every year, the altogether 1,600 EMBO members select excellent scientists for this honor. EMBO supports young talented researchers in their career and systematically stimulates national and international scientific exchange. With the admission of Petra Schwille, all eight Directors of the MPI of Biochemistry are now EMBO members.

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All living organisms consist of cells that have arisen from other living cells by the process of cell division. However, it is not yet fully understood just how this important process takes place. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich have now developed a minimal biological system, which brings together key components of the cell division apparatus. With the aid of this minimal model, the researchers were able to take a closer look at the biophysical mechanisms involved. “Our model may help to develop and test new treatments for diseases caused by errors in cell division,” said Sven Vogel, scientist at the MPI of Biochemistry. The results of the study have now been published in the new journal eLife. more