Press Releases of the MPI-NAT

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Light into the darkness of photosynthesis: 3D insights into the copying machine of chloroplasts

For life on Earth, it is essential that plants carry out photosynthesis and produce oxygen and chemical energy with the help of sunlight. Researchers have now succeeded for the first time in visualizing the copying machine of chloroplasts, the RNA polymerase PEP, in high-resolution 3D.  more

Lipid fibrils: A new building block for understanding Alzheimer's disease

Lipids play an important role in the development of Alzheimer's dementia. However, more details about this process were previously unknown. A team of scientists from Göttingen, Jülich, and Düsseldorf has now determined the atomic structures of lipid-fibril complexes for the first time. (in German) more

A new tower for the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences

The new building will provide space for three departments and replace Tower 6, which is in need of refurbishment. Preparatory work is currently underway to set up the construction site. The actual construction phase is scheduled to begin in November 2024 and be completed by July 2027. The Max Planck Society will cover the costs of around 34 million euros for the new building. more

Shredding to plan – protein recycling for immune defense

The waste system of living cells, the proteasome, not only shreds disused or damaged proteins. It also supports the immune system in recognizing virally infected or cancerous cells by producing so-called immunopeptides. Researchers headed by Juliane Liepe have now simulated protein degradation by the proteasome in the laboratory and identified peptides thereby produced. In future, the resulting data could help predict immunopeptides and develop new vaccines against infectious diseases or cancer. more

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

A team led by Sonja Lorenz has visualized the cell’s labeling machine, the ubiquitin ligase HACE1, bound to an important target protein in full length in 3D. The researchers were thus able to uncover important mechanisms of how HACE1 recognizes its target proteins and how this process is regulated. more

It is in our genes – and how our genome folds in 3D

Whether we stay healthy or become seriously ill is determined by our genes. The folding of our genome also has a significant influence on this, as the 3D genome organization regulates which genes are switched on and off. Researchers led by Marieke Oudelaar and Elisa Oberbeckmann at our MPI have now succeeded in recreating the 3D folding of the yeast genome in the lab and deciphering the underlying mechanisms. more

How HIV smuggles its genetic material into the cell nucleus

Around one million individuals worldwide become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, each year. To replicate and spread the infection, the virus must smuggle its genetic material into the cell nucleus and integrate it into a chromosome. Researchers headed by Dirk Görlich as well as Thomas Schwartz at MIT have now discovered that its capsid has evolved into a molecular transporter. As such, it can directly breach a crucial barrier, which normally protects the cell nucleus against viral invaders. more

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