Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Karl Friedrich Bonhoeffer Institute) Karl Friedrich Bonhoeffer Institute Am Faßberg 11 · 37077 Göttingen Phone: +49 551 201-0 · Fax: +49 551 201-1222 www.mpibpc.mpg.de Göttingen Publishing information Publisher Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Am Faßberg 11 37077 Göttingen Texts Marcus Anhäuser, Diemut Klärner, Dr. Carmen Rotte; (in German) in cooperation with the scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Translation Baker & Harrison, Dr. Daniel Whybrew Language editing Jaydev Jethwa, Dr. Nathan Pavlos Final proof-reading Dr. Ulrich Kuhnt, Dr. Carmen Rotte Photographs Irene Gajewski, Peter Goldmann (p. 10, bottom left, p. 17 top right), Heidi Wegener (p. 85); Cover picture: Irene Gajewski Layout Rothe-Grafik, Georgsmarienhütte; Hartmut Sebesse Printed at Druckhaus Fromm, Osnabrück Coordination Dr. Carmen Rotte Press and public relations office Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry [email protected] Internet address www.mpibpc.mpg.de Preamble ocated in Göttingen, home of one of Ger - L many’s foremost universities, the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry has for many years been conducting cutting-edge research. As one of the largest institutes of the Max Planck Society, it houses numerous research groups and provides them with an elaborate network of work - shops and central facilities. Students and re - searchers from various disciplines and nations col laborate not only with their colleagues at the in - stitute but also with a large number of experts worldwide to shed light on complex life processes. The novel insights gained from the basic re - search conducted here have continuously facilita - ted innovation and have led to many economically successful licensing agreements and spin-off com - panies. With this brochure, we would like to invite you to tour our institute and learn about our history and current research activities. We hope it inspires you to take a closer look at our ongoing research and, eventually, we can welcome you to one of our visitor and training programs Helmut Grubmüller Managing Director, October 2009 Content Introduction 4 An expedition into the world of molecules 4 Structural Dynamics of Research without constraints 6 (Bio)Chemical Processes 32 Tradition and vision 8 Dr. Simone Techert Teaching and learning 10 Laser-induced Chemistry 33 Prof. Dr. Michael Stuke When a new idea ignites something 12 Excellent service for cutting-edge research 14 Open doors 16 Emeritus Directors of the institute 18 Sophisticated molecules 34 Theoretical and Computational Biophysics 36 Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller Look deeper 20 Computational Biomolecular Dynamics 38 Prof. Dr. Bert de Groot NanoBiophotonics 22 Structural Investigations of Prof. Dr. Stefan W. Hell Protein Complexes 39 Dr. Stefan Becker Structure and Dynamics of Mitochondria 24 NMR-based Structural Biology 40 Dr. Stefan Jakobs Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger Biomolecular Spectroscopy Structure Determination of and Single Molecule Detection 25 Proteins Using NMR 42 Prof. Dr. Peter Jomo Walla Prof. Dr. Markus Zweckstetter Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics 26 Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy 43 Dr. Thomas M. Jovin Dr. Adam Lange Biochemical Kinetics 27 Systems Biology of Motor Proteins 44 Prof. Dr. Manfred Eigen Dr. Martin Kollmar Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy 28 Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry 45 Dr. Marina Bennati Dr. Henning Urlaub Biological Micro- and Nanotechnology 29 Enzyme Biochemistry 46 Dr. Thomas Burg Dr. Manfred Konrad Spectroscopy and Nucleic Acid Chemistry 47 Photochemical Kinetics 30 Dr. Claudia Höbartner Prof. Dr. Jürgen Troe Reaction Dynamics 31 Prof. Dr. Dirk Schwarzer 2 Cellular machines 48 Cellular Biochemistry 50 Prof. Dr. Reinhard Lührmann 3D Electron Cryo-Microscopy 52 Prof. Dr. Holger Star k From egg to organism 70 Ribosome Dynamics 53 Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wintermeye r Molecular Developmental Biology 72 Physical Biochemistry 54 Prof. Dr. Herbert Jäckle Prof. Marina Rodnina Developmental Biology 74 Prof. Dr. Michael Kesse l Molecular Organogenesis 75 Prof. Dr. Reinhard Schuh Molecular Cell Differentiation 76 Prof. Dr. Ahmed Mansouri Molecular Developmental Neurobiology 77 Talkative nerve cells 56 Dr. Anastassia Stoykova Biomedical NMR 78 Neurobiology 58 Prof. Dr. Jens Frahm Prof. Dr. Reinhard Jahn Gene Expression and Signaling 80 Structural Biochemistry 60 Dr. Halyna Shcherbata Dr. Dirk Fasshauer Sleep and Waking 81 Biophysics of Synaptic Transmission 61 Dr. Henrik Bringmann Dr. Takeshi Sakaba Genes and Behavior 82 Membrane Biophysics 62 Prof. Dr. Gregor Eichele Prof. Dr. Erwin Neher Circadian Rhythms 84 Dr. Henrik Oster The cell nucleus as control center 64 The institute at a glance 85 Reaching us 87 Cellular Logistics 66 Prof. Dr. Dirk Görlich Pictures 88 Nuclear Architecture 68 Dr. Volker Cordes Chromatin Biochemistry 69 Dr. Wolfgang Fischle 3 An expedition into the world of molecules ow do nerve cells talk to each other? How One focus of the institute's research is the Hdoes a complex organism evolve from a single develop ment of special methods that provide a egg cell? How is our »biological clock« controlled? closer look into the world of molecules. Ultra-high Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biophys - re solution fluorescence microscopy, nuclear magne t - ical Chemistry are on the trail towards unraveling ic resonance spectroscopy, cryo-electron micro - the answers to these, and other, fundamental biol- scopy and computer simulations are just a few of ogical questions. However, observing the molecu - the methods that are successfully used to investi - lar mechanisms that control and regulate these vi - gate proteins – the minute nanomachines of living tal cellular processes is no easy feat. They occur cells. The aim is to unravel the many tricks that deep within the nanocosmos of living cells and are proteins play to fulfill their diverse cellular func - therefore invisible to the naked eye. Conventional tions as molecular motors, chemical plants or microscopes can detect bacteria or observe individ - photo electric cells, for example. Cellular logistics ual body cell. However, what occurs deep within is also carefully managed by proteins. How specific the inner workings of a living cell remains an un - proteins sort and transport different cargos be - solved mystery. tween the various compartments of a cell is one of the topics being explored in greater detail here. Other scientists are investigating how a cell con - verts the basic blueprints of proteins into readable 4 forms, and are revealing how the cellular protein At the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical factories – the ribosomes – function. Proteins can Chemistry, scientists from various disciplines and only successfully fulfill their tasks when they are of different nationalities work together to shed light correctly assembled. The molecular mechanisms on complex life processes. Biologists, chemists, underlying the quality control for protein production medical scientists and physicists collaborate not are also being intensively studied at the institute. only with their colleagues at the institute, but also Likewise, many phenomena of inanimate nature with a large number of renowned experts worldwide. can be traced back to molecular processes. Many Accordingly, many different languages can be molecules, radicals and atoms in the atmosphere heard on the campus as people exchange views on react with each other, for example, after they have projects, ideas and results. When the Max Planck been produced and excited by solar radiation. Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Another group of researchers is focusing on in - moves from central Göttingen to the Faßberg site vesti gating these and other forms of internal mo - at the end of 2010, more than 1,000 employees le cular dynamics. will be working on the newly established Max Planck Campus. 5 Research without constraints ike all other Max Planck Institutes, the Max Other researchers have provided groundbreaking LPlanck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry ideas for improving optical microscopy to go well primarily pursues basic research. Here, researchers beyond current resolution barriers, thus revolu - follow up on fundamental new ideas. This »un - tioni zing optical microscopy. inhibited« research, the excellent working con - Many of the scientists at the institute have re - ditions and the outstanding international reputa - ceived awards and prizes for their work, including tion are the reasons why the Max Planck Institute the seven recipients of the prestigious Gottfried for Biophysical Chemistry has become a center of Wilhelm Leibniz Prize of the German Research attraction for both students and renowned re - Foundation. Currently, two of the 44 Nobel Lau - searchers from all over the world. reates who studied or worked in Göttingen are The new findings gained from such scientific re - conducting their research at the Max Planck Insti - search have paved the way for many pioneering tute for Biophysical Chemistry. applications. For example, a chemical compound Manfred Eigen was awarded the Nobel Prize for called Miltefosine, which was synthesized here, Chemistry in 1967. He succeeded in observing the turned out to be a cure for the tropical disease course of very fast chemical reactions occurring in visceral leishmaniasis – also known as kalar-azar. the range of nanoseconds. He thus broke through If left untreated, the disease fatality rate can be as a fundamental