Lehrstuhl für Biophysik I

The functions of proteins rely on their structures and the structural changes they can undergo. Structural biology hence provides unique insights into biomolecular function and thereby into cellular processes. Furthermore, the knowledge of protein structures is an invaluable starting point in the development of drugs to treat human disease. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the only method available to study biomolecular structure and dynamics with atomic resolution in solution. NMR provides information on the three-dimensional fold of proteins and the way proteins interact with other biomolecules. Finally, NMR spectroscopy gives insights into how protein complexes move and change conformation, aspects that are important for many enzymatic reactions. The information gained by NMR about biomolecular structure, interactions and dynamics allows us to understand how proteins are able to perform specific tasks in the cell.