Proteins

Model of the sugar shield (green) on the GABAA receptor (grey) in a membrane (red) generated by GlycoSHIELD.

Researchers develop novel method to predict the morphology of sugar coats on clinically relevant proteins within minutes more

Powering Nitrogenases

Max Planck Researchers find new targets for improving biocatalysts more

<strong>New insights into the cell’s labeling machine</strong>

Scientists visualize the ubiquitin ligase HACE1 bound to an important target protein more

Bacteria load their syringes

Pathogenic bacteria use molecular "shuttle services" to fill their injection apparatus with the right product more

Degradation of pathogenic proteins

Researchers develop novel cancer protein killer more

The enzyme with the iron heart

Solving the chemical structure of iron nitrogenase indicates previously unknown principles of biological nitrogen fixation more

Hard to drug

Protein droplets reveal new ways to inhibit transcription factors in an aggressive form of prostate cancer more

Illustration of a cell with its various components. The protein-protein interactions, in other words the social network of proteins, are represented by the red, orange and green lines. The corner points of the connections each symbolize an investigated protein in the cell.

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

Fatty acid factory filmed at work

High-resolution images provide new insights into cellular fatty acid production. more

First high-resolution image of thick filaments of muscle cells

Scientists gain insight into the organization of the mammalian heart muscle more

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Degradation of pathogenic proteins

Researchers develop novel cancer protein killer more

Hard to drug

Protein droplets reveal new ways to inhibit transcription factors in an aggressive form of prostate cancer more

Illustration of a cell with its various components. The protein-protein interactions, in other words the social network of proteins, are represented by the red, orange and green lines. The corner points of the connections each symbolize an investigated protein in the cell.

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

First high-resolution image of thick filaments of muscle cells

Scientists gain insight into the organization of the mammalian heart muscle more

Wiggly proteins guard the genome

Dynamic network in the pores of the nuclear envelope blocks dangerous invaders more

Major advance in super-resolution fluorescence microscopy

Pushing the MINFLUX technique to higher spatial and temporal precision allows protein dynamics to be observed under physiological conditions more

Human epithelial cells (green with blue nuclei) are incubated with synthetic SARS-CoV-2 virions (magenta) to study the initial of infection and immune evasion.

Researchers create minimalistic Sars-CoV-2 virions and discover the spike protein switching mechanism more

Bacteria’s hidden weapon: toxins locked inside a capsule secured by a cork

New insights into the bacterial type VI secretion system could one day help to develop antibacterial and antifungal applications
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<span>Molecular mechanisms of corona drug candidate Molnupiravir unraveled</span>

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen and the Julius Maximilians University Würzburg have elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms by which the antiviral compound Molnupiravir blocks the replication of the coronavirus in the event of infection. more

Zooming in on muscle cells

Max Planck Institute’s researchers use electron cryo-tomography to reveal novel molecular details of skeletal sarcomeres more

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Scientific highlights 2020

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2020 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 13 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Secretin protein with a crown

Researchers elucidate the structure of a molecular machine that allows bacteria to import foreign DNA and become resistant to antibiotics more

Structure of channelrhodopsin determined

Researchers discover structure and mechanism of action of molecular light switch, paving the way for new applications more

Stiff fibres spun from slime

Under the influence of shear forces, nanoparticles from the secretion of velvet worms form polymer fibres that can be recycled in water more

<p>Shining a light on molecular switches</p>

First structural insights obtained from femtosecond X-ray crystallography more

Deceptive teeth

Although the dentition of the wedgefish appear designed to crush shellfish, it also eats stingrays more

Green chemistry from the mussel foot

The byssus threads of the common mussel are produced by a combination of self-assembly processes and biologically active steps more

The first glimpse of a single protein

A folded protein molecule can be clearly imaged with the help of electron holograms more

Light microscopy provides a deep look into protein structure

An innovative fluorescence microscopy method makes it possible to image protein structures with a resolution of less than half an Angstrom more

Why is Usain Bolt the fastest person on Earth?

Max Planck researchers observe muscles at work with the help of new microscopes more

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