Center for Structural Studies

• Subject Area: Structural Biology ; Biochemistry ; Biophysics ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 417919780

The Center for Structural Studies (CSS) is a central scientific research and service facility of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science at the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf. The CSS aims for scientific projects within all areas of structure-supplying methods at an (near) atomic level. The CSS provides all steps as full-service projects as well as access to our infrastructure combined with scientific support for the individual experiments to all members of the HHU as well as external users. The spectrum of methods comprises at present two complex techniques which both delivers detailed structural information about proteins, protein-ligand and protein-protein complexes. These methods are mainly protein crystallization, X-ray diffraction analysis and structure determination (MX) of proteins (in house and at synchrotrons) and to a lesser extent Small-Angle-X-ray-Scattering-Analysis (SAXS) of proteins and all kinds of complexes thereof (up to now only at synchrotrons).At the end of 2018 the instrument-based equipment will be enlarged by an in house SAXS system so that the supply of service, infrastructural access and scientific support for this method is targeted to be extended for all members of the HHU as well as external users.Additionally, there is a high increasing demand at the HHU for analysis and prediction of the structure, dynamic and function of biomolecules and biomolecular complexes as well as for modulation of biomolecular interactions. Therefore this third technique (molecular modelling/simulation) will be integrated in the CSS. This means that interested research groups can ask to the calculation of homology models, the determination of the active site, docking studies of ligands or the calculation of potential interaction site of proteins in protein-protein complexes.The Center for Structural Studies aims to interdisciplinarily combine these three structural data delivering methods (MX, SAXS, modelling/simulation) in order to generate synergistical effects for all interested research groups.The coordination and support of the experiments and instruments will be provided by the CSS in a centralized manner in order to ensure smooth processes and therefore maximum efficiency for all users.

• DFG Programme: Core Facilities
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Leader: Professor Dr. Sander Smits