Archived Research Projects

Elastic properties of three biologically relevant D-glucose polymers (1-6)-glucose (dextran), (1-4)-glucose (amylose), and (1-4)-glucose (cellulose) have been studied by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In these simulations, the sugar polymers were stretched by an external force in close resemblence to recent AFM experiments in Hermann Gaub's lab in Munich (Germany). [more]

Unfolding and elastic properties of single poly(ethylene-glycol) (PEG) polymers were studied by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The simulations were performed in close resemblance to recent single molecule force spectroscopy experiments that were carried out in Hermann Gaub's lab in Munich (Germany), and this allowed an interpretation of these ... [more]

The olfactory system of insects is one of the best biosensors known. It is both extraordinarily selective and sensitive to the female sex pheromone bombykol. To reach the pheromone ... [more]

The presentation of peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules is the primary event of immune responses. Peptidic fragments of self or non-self proteins are loaded on MHC class I molecules in the endoplasmatic reticulum, followed by transport to the cell surface. Recognition of peptide-loaded MHC molecules by T-cell receptors (TCR) triggers an immune ... [more]

The labeling of proteins with fluorescent dyes is a widely used technique for studying the function of proteins e.g. by fluorescence anisotropy or FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) experiments. Dyes are typically attached to proteins via a flexible linker to reduce interference with the protein and thus to ensure orientational averaging with FRET experiments. [more]

The unbinding of the AN02-antibody-(dinitrophenyl [DNP]-hapten) complex was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In particular, we focused at the antigen binding Fab-fragment of the AN02-antibody, where the spin-labeled DNP-hapten is bound to. [more]