Cell Biology

Using light to break down and bind CO₂: two new research groups want to make what nature already does much more efficient more

Female mammals, including humans, are born with all of their egg cells. Some egg cells therefore survive for several decades – and need to remain functional over this long time. Extremely long-lived proteins in the ovary seem to play an important role in this. They appear to help maintain fertility for as long as possible. more

Dynamic structure of FLVCR proteins and their function in nutrient transport in our cells revealed more

Stress granules protect cells from the effects of UV radiation more

The capsid of the virus acts as a molecular transporter more

A research team maps the entire protein network architecture of a cell more

Liver cells age differently depending on where they are in the organ more

Cytoplasmic lattices in the egg cell supply the early embryo as protein storage sites more

A newly discovered nematode species from the Pleistocene shares a molecular toolkit for survival with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans more

Resarchers have found new possibilities for targeting cancer genes’ RNA with nature-inspired compounds more

The year 2024 saw Max Planck scientists publishing exceptional research across disciplines. We have selected twelve highlights to share more

Human eggs are missing an important protein, which acts as a molecular motor, as researchers have found out. Their findings open up new avenues for therapeutic approaches that could reduce chromosome segregation errors in human eggs. more

Mathias Grote, science historian and Heisenberg Fellow at Humboldt University, talks with Dieter Oesterhelt about his research more

Life on Earth developed from inanimate components. Can we recreate this process in the laboratory, and what tools do we need for this? Using DNA origami, the art of folding at a scale of just a few millionths of a millimetre, we are able to reconstruct individual cellular components. They may be capable of taking over important tasks in our bodies in future. more

First complete genome assembly of planarian flatworm reveals treasure trove on the function and evolution of genes more

The sequencing of the largest genome to date lays the foundation for novel insights into tissue regeneration more

Max Planck researchers develop sustainable alternative to the most widely used antibodies and their controversial production in animals more

Scientists present a novel method to directly and rapidly destroy any protein in any kind of cell more

Researchers identify almost 11,000 different proteins throughout the heart more

Researchers are deciphering the structure of the MHC-I peptide-loading complex. more

Nothing works without the correct form: For most proteins, there are millions of ways in which these molecules, composed of long chains of amino acids, can be folded - but only one way is the right one. Researchers in the department "Cellular Biochemistry" at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried examine how this origami in cells works and what happens if something goes awry. Franz Ulrich Hartl and his team are interested in both the underlying mechanisms and the structure of the molecules involved.Further information more

About 12,000 proteins are produced in typical human cells – more than 120,000 various proteins in total. Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany, has set himself the target of establishing a protein library of the human body. Not an easy project - because in contrast to genes, proteins are extremely variable. In addition, many various factors influence which proteins a cell produces. Nevertheless, Mann is able to identify the proteins with mass spectrometry, nanochromatography and special computer software. more