Press releases 鈥� 2021
Jun
24
2021
14:31
Screening of multiple gene mutations is also applicable for complex nervous and immune diseases
New technique for studying cancer mutations 鈥� approaches for future therapies
An extended application of
the CRISPR-Cas technology has been made possible by Dr Manual Kaulich's team at
51猎奇: the new 3Cs multiplex technique allows the effect of genetic
changes in any two genes to be studied simultaneously in cell cultures. This
can provide important clues for the development of therapies to treat cancer or
diseases of the nervous and immune systems.
FRANKFURT. Cancer
and many other diseases are based on genetic defects. The body can often compensate
for the defect of one gene; it is only the combination of several genetic
errors that leads to the clinical picture. The 3Cs multiplex technique based on
CRISPR-Cas technology developed at 51猎奇 Frankfurt now offers a way
to simulate millions of such combinations of genetic defects and study their
effects in cell culture. These "gene scissors" make it possible to
introduce, remove and switch off genes in a targeted manner. For this purpose,
small snippets of genetic material ("single guide RNA") are used as
"addresses" that guide the gene scissors to specific sections of the
DNA, where the gene scissors then become active.
The scientists from the Institute of
Biochemistry II at 51猎奇 have expanded the 3Cs technique that they
developed and patented three years ago. 3Cs stands for covalently-closed
circular-synthesised, because the RNA elements used for CRISPR-Cas are
generated with the help of a circular synthesis and are thus distributed more
uniformly. With a whole library of such RNA rings, any gene in a cell can be
specifically addressed in order to change it or switch it off.
The new 3Cs multiplex technique now even
allows the simultaneous manipulation of two genes in one cell. Dr. Manuel
Kaulich explains: "We can produce 'address' RNA libraries for all
conceivable two-gene combinations. This allows up to several million
combinations to be tested simultaneously in one experiment."
Until now, the cost and effort of such experiments
was very high; the research group's new technique reduces it, including costs,
by a factor of ten. This is because the team can produce the address libraries
very uniformly and in high quality thanks to the new 3Cs multiplex technique.
"Due to the mediocre quality of the CRISPR-Cas libraries previously available,
very large experiments always had to be carried out to statistically compensate
for any errors that arose," says Kaulich.
Using the example of various genes
involved in degradation processes, the research group demonstrated the
potential of the new 3Cs multiplex technique: they examined almost 13,000
two-way combinations of genes that are responsible for recycling processes
(autophagy) in the cell. With their help, the cell breaks down and recycles
"worn-out" cell components. Disturbances in autophagy can trigger
cell proliferation.
"Using the 3Cs multiplex technique,
we were able to identify, for example, two genes involved in autophagy whose switching
off leads to an uncontrolled growth of cells," explains Kaulich. "These
are precisely the autophagy mutations that occur in every fifth patient with
squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. In this way, we can search very
efficiently in cell culture experiments for genes that play an important role
in cancer, and also in diseases of the nervous and immune systems, and that are
suitable as possible targets for therapies."
The 51猎奇 research group has
applied for a patent for its developments through the university's technology
transfer subsidiary Innovectis. The start-up company Vivlion GmbH, spun off
from the Institute of Biochemistry II with the participation of Manuel Kaulich,
is already offering the use of this technology on the market.
Publication: Valentina Diehl, Martin Wegner, Paolo Grumati, Koraljka Husnjak, Simone
Schaubeck, Andrea Gubas, Varun Jayeshkumar Shah, Ibrahim H Polat, Felix
Langschied, Cristian Prieto-Garcia, Konstantin M眉ller, Alkmini Kalousi, Ingo
Ebersberger, Christian H Brandts, Ivan Dikic, Manuel Kaulich, Minimized combinatorial CRISPR screens
identify genetic interactions in autophagy. Nucleic Acids Research,
gkab309,
Further
information:
Dr Manuel Kaulich
Institute for Biochemistry II
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 69 6301-6295
kaulich@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Dr Kerstin Koch
Institute for Biochemistry II
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 696301-84250
k.koch@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communication Department, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-12498,
Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Jun
10
2021
13:33
German Research Foundation funds new CRC Transregio 326 鈥濭eometry and arithmetic of uniformized structures鈥� 鈥� CRC 1039 on medical signal path research enters third funding period 鈥� 51猎奇 involved in two further CRC-Transregios
Funding decision on four collaborative research centres at 51猎奇: new CRC for basic research in mathematics
Researching intricate geometric and arithmetic objects
is the goal of the new Collaborative Research Centre Transregio 326 (TRR 326),
coordinated by 51猎奇. On 25th May, the German Research
Foundation (DFG) announced that the TRR 326 would be funded with 9.2 million
euros for the next four years. The CRC 1039 鈥淪ignalling by fatty acid
derivatives and sphingolipids in health and disease", for which Goethe
University is spokesperson, will be continued and receive 9.6 million euros for
the third funding period. Two other TRRs in which 51猎奇 is involved
will also be funded by the DFG: In the TRR 211 鈥淪trongly interacting matter under
extreme conditions", the spokesperson will switch from 51猎奇 to the
Technical University of Darmstadt (9.2 million euros). Finally, scientists from
51猎奇 are also significantly involved in TRR 301 "The tropopause region in a changing atmosphere" (spokesperson:
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 鈧�12.3 million).
FRANKFURT. Professor
Enrico Schleiff, President of 51猎奇 Frankfurt, congratulates the
scientists on their success: "51猎奇's commitment, particularly
in the Transregio Collaborative Research Centres, demonstrates our excellent
scientific networking in the region, especially in the natural sciences and
medicine. The association of the Rhine-Main universities of Frankfurt, Mainz
and Darmstadt, have given this regional cooperation a framework: There are now
more than 30 research associations and networks in this strategic alliance, and
last year we established the RMU degree programme so that talented students can
also benefit from RMU."
The mathematical exploration of
complicated geometric and arithmetic spaces with the help of uniformization is
the research topic of TRR 326
"Geometry and arithmetic of uniformized structures - GAUS".
Together with coordinator 51猎奇 Frankfurt, the Technical University
of Darmstadt and Heidelberg University successfully applied for TRR 326;
associated institutions are the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the
Technical University of Munich. The concept of uniformization goes back to
ideas of Felix Klein and Henri Poincar茅 from the 19th century and seeks a
uniform description of certain geometric objects. A very simple example uniformization
can be illustrated with the slinky, a metal spiral toy which is able to
"run" down a staircase doing "somersaults". When pressed
together, it has - seen from above - the geometry of a circle. This circle can
be uniformized by pulling the metal spiral apart. It becomes particularly simple
when the spiral is completely unwound and, geometrically, is only a simple
wire. In order to preserve the information of the slinky, each spiral turn on
the wire is marked with a colour dot, which gives the wire a shifting symmetry
(you change levels in the spiral). A globally complicated geometric space (in our
example, the circle of the slinky) is replaced by a much simpler space (here a
straight line) without changing the local structure. The original complexity is
described by internal symmetries (illustrated in the example by periodic
markings) of the simpler space.
In TRR 326 GAUS, mathematicians deal with uniformization
of very complicated geometric spaces - this includes modern geometric concepts,
in particular tropical and p-adic geometries - and with analogous applications
of the uniformization technique to arithmetic (number-theoretic) questions.
Here, the researchers try to identify fundamental connections, for example to
moduli spaces, automorphic forms, Galois representations, and cohomological
structures. Professor Jakob Stix, mathematician at 51猎奇 and GAUS
spokesman, says: "With the SFB Transregio GAUS, we are building on the
extremely successful collaboration between TU Darmstadt and 51猎奇
in the LOEWE priority 'Uniformed Structures in Arithmetic and Geometry' and the
DFG research group 'Symmetry, Geometry and Arithmetic' at TU Darmstadt and Heidelberg
University. I am very much looking forward to doing joint research with so many
outstanding colleagues."
The Collaborative
Research Centre 1039 "Signalling by fatty acid derivatives and
sphingolipids in health and disease," which 51猎奇 is now
continuing together with the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research
in Bad Nauheim, is entering its third funding period. The scientists are
studying a group of poorly water-soluble biomolecules, the lipids. As lipid
bilayers, they prominently form the membranes that surround our cells and also
divide the interior of the cells. As fats, they serve as energy storage for our
bodies.
However, CRC 1039 is investigating a
function that is still comparatively under-researched: Lipids are part of many
signalling pathways through which cells regulate growth and metabolism and
communicate with their environment. Dysregulated lipids are apparently
decisively involved in the development and progression of diseases such as diabetes,
cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. After fundamental work in
the first two funding periods, the third funding period focuses on
understanding the whole organism. Professor Josef Pfeilschifter, pharmacologist
at 51猎奇 and spokesman of SFB 1039, explains: "We want to
understand the lipid signalling network as a whole and thus develop innovative
ways to diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases related to dysregulated
lipids. In doing so, we can rely on a long-standing and broad expertise in
'lipid signalling', which is also founded on the establishment of sophisticated
analytical methods based on mass spectrometry."
Scientists from 51猎奇 are
significantly involved in two other CRC Transregios:
How matter behaves under conditions of
extreme pressure and temperature, in which atoms overlap and fuse with each
other is being investigated by TRR 211
"Strongly interacting matter under extreme conditions", which is
entering its second funding period. For extremely short periods of time, such
states of matter can be created in particle accelerators, revealing something
about the strong interaction that holds atomic nuclei together. In the cosmos,
such extreme states of matter occur when, for example, neutron stars collide
with each other. Besides51猎奇, the Technical University of
Darmstadt, which is the new host university, and Bielefeld University are also
involved in this collaborative research centre.
In the new TRR 301 "The tropopause region in a changing atmosphere",
atmospheric scientists will study the tropopause region: the zone in the
atmosphere that separates the lower "weather layer" (troposphere)
from the stratosphere above. The research focus is on the physical and chemical
processes of this region and their influence on planetary circulation and
climate. The main locations are the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (spokesperson)
and 51猎奇 Frankfurt. Also involved are the Technical University of
Darmstadt, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry in Mainz, the J眉lich Research Centre and the German Aerospace
Centre (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen.
Image for download:
Caption:
Using the mathematical technique of uniformization,
complicated geometric spaces (here: the j-invariant as an automorphic function
on the uniformization of the moduli space of elliptic curves) can be represented
as highly symmetric geometric patterns. Credit: Michaelis Neururer
Further
information:
Professor Jakob Stix
Spokesman
TRR 326 鈥濭AUS鈥�
Institute for Mathematics
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 69 798-28998
stix@math.uni-frankfurt.de
Professor Josef Pfeilschifter
Spokesman
SFB 1039 鈥淪ignalling by fatty acid derivatives and sphingolipids in health and
disease"
Institute for General Pharmacology and Toxicology
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 69
6301-6950
pfeilschifter@em.uni-frankfurt.de
TRR 211 鈥濻trongly
interacting matter under extreme conditions鈥�
TRR
301 鈥濼he tropopause region in a changing atmosphere鈥�
May
27
2021
10:34
Fear of long-term consequences 鈥� physical activity could actually help to better manage the pandemic
Physical activity levels and well-being sink worldwide during coronavirus restrictions 鈥� study led by Goethe University聽
During the first lockdown people were a good 40
percent less active, as shown by an international study led by 51猎奇
Frankfurt. Psychological well-being sank as well; the portion of people at potential
risk for depression tripled. The authors fear long-term consequences and urge
that this be taken into account going forward.
FRANKFURT. Twenty
scientists from 14 countries warn of a hidden 鈥減andemic within the pandemic鈥� in
two current publications. On the one hand, physical activity levels have gone
down significantly, on the other hand, psychological well-being has suffered.
鈥淕overnments and those responsible for health systems should take our findings
seriously," emphasizes the author team, headed by Dr Jan Wilke from the
Institute for Sport Sciences at 51猎奇 Frankfurt.
About 15,000 people in participating
countries answered standardised questionaires as part of an international
survey. In April/May 2020, they reported physical activity levels (13,500
participants) as well as their mental and physical well-being (15,000
participants) before and during the pandemic-related restrictions.
Older individuals especially affected
鈥淭he results show drastic reductions in
physical activity and well-being," says Wilke. More than two thirds of those
questioned were unable to maintain their usual level of activity. Moderate exercise
decreased by an average of 41 percent according to self-reported data - this
includes anything that increases heart rate and breathing, such as brisk
walking, running, cycling or even strenuous gardening.
The proportion of vigorous exercise during
which people sweat and clearly run out of breath fell by a similar amount (42
percent). The effects were somewhat higher among professional athletes and
particularly active people, as well as comparatively young and old people. The
decline in activity was particularly noticeable among people over 70 years of
age, who were 56 to 67 percent less active than before. "We know that
physical inactivity, especially in older people, can lead to changes that are
difficult to reverse after only two weeks - for example, in body fat percentage
or insulin sensitivity," warn the study authors.
Exercise helps prevents disease and reduces mortality
The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of
moderate or 75 minutes of intensive physical activity per week - 81 percent of
the study participants achieved this before the pandemic, but only 63 percent
during the lockdowns. Yet sufficient exercise can reduce mortality by up to 39
per cent, as a 2015 study showed. Data suggests that too little exercise plays
a role in about one in ten premature deaths, because physical activity reduces
the likelihood of, for example, high blood pressure, metabolic disorders such
as type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Exercise is known to activate the immune
system because it promotes blood circulation and activates lymphocytes and
messenger substances (cytokines) that are important for immune defence. Studies
show that physically active people are less susceptible to influenza, rhino and
herpes viruses and respiratory infections in general. So it may be that
exercise also offers protection against severe COVID-19 by reducing risk
factors such as obesity. Physical health and exercise also reduce the risk of
mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Mental well-being drastically reduced
In another part of the study, the team of
authors asked about mental well-being during the pandemic restrictions. 73
percent of the study participants stated that their well-being had
deteriorated. The perceived quality of life as measured by the WHO well-being
Index, which measures mood, relaxation, activity, rest and interest, dropped on
average from 68 percent before the pandemic to 52 percent during the first
lockdown phase.
Above all, people felt less "active
and full of energy" and led a life less "filled with interesting
things". The proportion of very low scores indicating a possible risk of depression
tripled from 15 to 45 percent. "These effects were stronger among women
and younger people, " the study says. "More attention should be paid
to the needs of women in particular, as they are significantly more
vulnerable."
Nonetheless, 14 to 20 percent of the
respondents also stated that their health had improved - the authors see more
family time, greater work autonomy, fewer business trips or a changed
perception of health as possible reasons. "But a large part of the
population may still be suffering from barely visible health effects of the
pandemic," the team of authors warns.
This could also translate into rising
health costs: According to US data, the annual expenditure for inactive or
insufficiently active people increases by 1200 and 600 euros respectively -
this would add up to two to four million euros after one year just for the 3104
people from the survey who did not exercise enough during the lockdown.
The results of these first multinational
studies are likely to be relevant for an estimated four billion people
worldwide who were affected by the restrictions of the first coronavirus wave
in the spring of 2020. However, the data was predominantly collected through
electronic media, so populations without internet were not included. Also, no
differentiation was made according to factors such as living environment,
education and social status. In addition, the data is based on
self-assessments, not measurements, which may distort retrospective perceptions
in particular. "Nevertheless, our results show that the issues of physical
activity and well-being belong on the policy agenda," Wilke emphasises.
"Governmental and health-related
decison-makers need to develop strategies to mitigate the loss of physical
activity," write the authors. They suggest better public education,
creating exercise opportunities with a low likelihood of infection, or offering
effective home exercise programmes. Among numerous other health facets, this
would have a particularly positive effect on mental well-being.
Negative effects similar to those observed
in these studies should be avoided at all costs in future pandemics.
"Unfortunately, physical activity and exercise do not have a strong lobby
and are usually neglected in public discourse," says Wilke. "Yet they
can greatly help us to better cope with the pandemic."
Publications:
Jan Wilke et al. A Pandemic within the Pandemic? Physical Activity Levels Substantially
Decreased in Countries Affected by COVID-19. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public
Health, Vol. 18, 5 (2021),
Jan Wilke et al., Drastic Reductions in Mental Well-Being Observed Globally During the
COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the ASAP Survey. Front. Med. 8:578959
(2021),
Further
information
Dr Jan Wilke
Institute f眉r Sport Sciences
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (69) 798-24588,
wilke@sport.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR
& Communication Department, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-12498, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de
May
20
2021
14:51
Scientists at 51猎奇 Frankfurt and the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration use data which produced the first image of a black hole to constrain its fundamental properties.
Not All Theories Can Explain the Black Hole M87*
Theoretical physicists at 51猎奇 Frankfurt have analysed data from the black hole M87* as part of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration to test Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. According to the tests, the size of the shadow from M87* is in excellent agreement being from a black hole in general relativity, but sets constraints on the properties of black holes in other theories. In 2019, the EHT collaboration published the first image of a black hole located at the centre of the galaxy M87.
FRANKFURT. As
first pointed out by the German astronomer Karl Schwarzschild, black holes bend
space-time to an extreme degree due to their extraordinary concentration of
mass, and heat up the matter in their vicinity so that it begins to glow. New
Zealand physicist Roy Kerr showed rotation can change the black hole's size and
the geometry of its surroundings. The "edge" of a black hole is known
as the event horizon, the boundary around the concentration of mass beyond
which light and matter cannot escape and which makes the black hole 鈥渂lack".
Black holes, theory predicts, can be described by a handful of properties:
mass, spin, and a variety of possible charges.
In addition to black holes predicted from
Einstein's theory of general relativity, one can consider those from models
inspired by string theories, which describe matter and all particles as modes of tiny vibrating strings.
String-inspired theories of black holes predict the existence of an additional
field in the description of fundamental physics, which leads to observable
modifications in the sizes of black holes as well as in the curvature in their
vicinity.
Physicists Dr Prashant Kocherlakota and
Professor Luciano Rezzolla from the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Goethe
University Frankfurt, have now investigated for the first time how the
different theories fit with the observational data of the black hole M87* at
the centre of the galaxy Messier 87. The image of M87*, taken in 2019 by the international
Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, was the first experimental proof
of the actual existence of black holes after the measurement of gravitational
waves in 2015.
The
result of these investigations: The data from M87* are in excellent agreement
with the Einstein-based theories and to a certain extent with the string-based
theories. Dr Prashant Kocherlakota explains: "With the data recorded by
the EHT collaboration, we can now test different theories of physics with black
hole images. Currently, we cannot reject these theories when describing the
shadow size of M87*, but our calculations constrain the range of validity of
these black hole models."
Professor
Luciano Rezzolla says: 鈥淭he idea of black holes for us theoretical physicists is
at the same time a source of concern and of inspiration. While we still
struggle with some of the consequences of black holes 鈥� such as the event horizon or the singularity 鈥� we seem always keen
to find new black hole solutions also in other theories. It is therefore very
important to obtain results like ours, which determine what is plausible and
what is not. This was an important first step and our constraints will be
improved as new observations are made".
In
the , telescopes from around the globe are
interconnected to form a virtual giant telescope with a dish as big as the
Earth itself. With the precision of this telescope, a newspaper in New York
could be read from a street caf茅 in Berlin.
Publication:
Prashant Kocherlakota, Luciano Rezzolla,
Heino Falcke, Christian M. Fromm, Michael Kramer, Yosuke Mizuno, Antonios Nathanail, H麓ector
Olivares, Ziri Younsi et. al. (The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration), Constraints on black-hole charges with the
2017 EHT observations of M87*. Physical Review D, vol 103,
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.103.104047
Video:
Testing different theories of gravity with
the data obtained
Images
for download:
Caption:
Event horizon sizes for different theories
of gravity. All of these black holes cast dark shadows that are distinguishable
from each other in size, but only those that fall in the gray band are
compatible with the 2017 EHT measurements of M87*, and in this image, the one
represented in red at the bottom is too small to be a viable model for M87*.
Credit: Prashant Kocherlakota, Luciano Rezzolla (51猎奇 Frankfurt
and EHT Collaboration/ Fiks Film 2021)
Scientific
contact:
Dr Prashant Kocherlakota
Institute for Theoretical Physics
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 69 798-47848
kocherlakota@itp.uni-frankfurt.de
Professor Luciano Rezzolla
Institute for Theoretical Physics
51猎奇 Frankfurt
rezzolla@itp.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communication Department, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-12498, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, E-Mail: bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de
May
17
2021
15:23
How novel therapeutics provide insight into bacteria membranes聽
In slow motion against antibiotic resistance
Whether bacteria are resistant to antibiotics is often decided at the cell membrane. This is where antibiotics can be blocked on their way into the cell interior or catapulted from the inside to the outside. Macrocyclic peptides, a novel class of antibiotics, bioactive cytotoxins and inhibitors, shed light on how this transport process occurs at the membrane, how it is influenced and how it can be used to circumvent the resistance of a malignantly transformed cell. The research results, which were developed under the direction of Professor Robert Tamp茅 (51猎奇) and Professor Hiroaki Suga (University of Tokyo), have been published in the renowned journal eLife (20-02-2021-RA-eLife-67732).
FRANKFURT. There are
currently only a few synthetic agents that bind to and block the widespread
membrane transport proteins, ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC).
Scientists at 51猎奇 and the University of Tokyo identified four of
these macrocyclic peptides as models for a novel generation of active
substances. They used methods for which the scientists involved are considered
world leaders.
Thanks to deep sequencing, an
extremely fast and efficient read-out procedure, the desired macrocyclic
peptides could be filtered out of a "library" of macrocyclic peptides
comprising trillions of variants (1 with 12 zeroes) - a number that exceeds the
number of stars in the Milky Way. The fact that such an enormous amount exists
at all is related to a novel procedure: By reprogramming the genetic code,
amino acids can be used specifically as active components that are not
otherwise used in the cell. In particular, their circular, closed structure
distinguishes them from natural proteins. "Because these therapeutics are
cyclic, they break down less rapidly in the cell," explains Robert Tamp茅,
Director of the Institute of Biochemistry at 51猎奇. "In
addition, the ring-shaped active substances are restricted in their spatial
structure, so they bind to the target molecule without major
rearrangements." A third distinguishing feature makes macrocyclic peptides
particularly attractive for scientists: When the active substances are
produced, their building instructions are supplied as a "barcode". If
certain therapeutics are selected from among a trillion synthetically produced
ones, they carry their "name tags" with them, so to speak.
So what role do synthetic therapeutics play in
antibiotic resistance in bacteria or multidrug resistance in tumour cells? What happens
when they encounter the ATP-driven transport molecule that is responsible for
resistance by carrying the chemotherapeutic agents out of the cell? In a
nutshell: The drugs block the transporter by binding to it. This can happen at
the beginning or at the end of a transport process, when the transporter is in
a resting state. However, since the scientists can slow down the transport
process so that it is carried out in slow motion, they can identify the agents
that "enter" in the middle of the transport process and
"hold" the membrane protein in its respective position. In this way,
the researchers gain an insight into the choreography of the transport process
as if through the images of a film strip.
These insights have already led to a "paradigm
shift" in science, as Tamp茅 explains: "Until now, we have assumed
that ATP hydrolysis (note: an energy-releasing splitting process) provides the
energy for transport through the membrane. However, this is only indirectly the
case. It is the event of the binding of the ATP molecule that pushes substances
out of the cell. The energy of hydrolysis, on the other hand, is used to return
the ABC transporter to its initial
state." The research groups at 51猎奇 and the University of
Tokyo are convinced that these and other insights into membrane processes will
point to the development of future medicines.
Basic research on cellular membranes and membrane proteins already has a
long tradition in Frankfurt. Robert Tamp茅 elucidated
essential mechanisms of ATP-driven transport proteins and cellular machinery of
adaptive immune response and quality control, which together with this new
publication can provide approaches for applied drug research. Tamp茅 was head of the Collaborative Research Centre
"Transport and Communication across Biological Membranes" (SFB 807)
which expired at the end of 2020. Meanwhile the concept for a new research
centre on highly dynamic processes related to protein networks and machineries
in cellular membranes is already under development. In the long term, the
research results should reveal new possibilities for the therapy of molecular
diseases, infections and cancer.
Publication:
Erich Stefan, Richard
Obexer, Susanne Hofmann, Khanh Vu Huu, Yichao Huang, Nina Morgner, Hiroaki
Suga, Robert Tamp茅: 鈥�De novo macrocyclic peptides dissect energy coupling of a
heterodimeric ABC transporter by multimode allosteric inhibition鈥�
(20-02-2021-RA-eLife-67732)
Stefan, Hofmann, and Tamp茅 at the Institute of Biochemistry
at 51猎奇, Vu Huu and Morgner at the Institute for Physical and
Theoretical Chemistry at 51猎奇, and Obexer, Huang and Suga at the
Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo.
Images for download:
(Graphic: Robert Tamp茅, Institute for Biochemistry,
Biocentre, 51猎奇 Frankfurt)
Caption: Synthetic therapeutics for antibiotic resistance in
bacteria or multidrug resistance in tumour cells can block ATP-driven transport
proteins that carries chemotherapeutics out of the cell
Further information
Professor Robert Tamp茅
Institute of Biochemistry, Biocentre
Goethe
University Frankfurt
tampe@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Professor
Hiroaki Suga
Department of Chemistry
Graduate School of Science
The University of Tokyo
hsuga@chem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Editor: Pia Barth, Public Relations, PR & Communication Department, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-12481, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, p.barth@em.uni-frankfurt.de