GRK 612:  Molecular Physiology: Interactions between Cellular Nanostructures

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 2000 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273037

The scientific aim of this research training group is to better understand the molecular basis of cellular processes by analyzing complex cell functions, using modern biological, chemical and physical methods. Protein-protein interactions are investigated as well as interactions between proteins and membrane surfaces, phospholipids, nucleic acids or polysaccharides, and biomimetic projects examine interactions between artificial nanostructures and proteins. A topic can be chosen to pursue an experimentally oriented PhD thesis and to concomitantly deepen the theoretical knowledge. The interdisciplinary research and teaching programme supports young researchers during the period of their thesis. Thus, collaborations between biologists, chemists and physicists, as well as accompanying lectures, international workshops and special practical courses are part of the programme. Being focussed on supramolecular interactions, the research programme complements the Osnabrück collaborative research centre 431 "Membrane Proteins: Functional Dynamics and Coupling to Reaction Chains".

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Osnabrück
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Markus Haase; Professor Dr. Jürgen J. Heinisch; Professor Dr. Gunnar Jeserich; Professor Dr. Hans Merzendorfer; Professor Dr. Achim Paululat; Professorin Dr. Renate Scheibe; Privatdozent Dr. Hans-Peter Schmitz; Professor Dr. Henning Scholze; Professorin Dr. Hildgund Schrempf; Professor Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Steinhoff; Professor Dr.-Ing. Richard Wagner; Professor Dr. Lorenz Walder; Professor Dr. Helmut Wieczorek
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Roland Brandt