Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology

The Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, a research institute of the Max Planck Society, examines the relationships between structure and function of biological macromolecules and the possibilities to influence this by synthetic substances. This often results in a medical relevance, which is being actively pursued, especially in the areas of cancer and HIV and promoted with the spin-off of a center for chemical genomics on.

• 5.1 Center for Chemical Genomics
• 5.2 Dortmund Protein Facility
• 5.3 Compound Management and Screening Center ( Comas )
• 5.4 International Max Planck Research School in Chemical Biology

History

The 1912 adopted and 1913 his work receiving Institute for Occupational Physiology at the Kaiser Wilhelm Society is 1928/1929 transferred from Berlin to Dortmund, with a branch office in Münster ( Westphalia). 1943, parts of the Institute due to the war to Bad Ems and Diez laid on the Lahn. As the transition of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society in the Max Planck Society takes place in 1948 renamed the Max Planck Institute for Occupational Physiology. 1951 established an independent department of Nutrition Physiology. This is converted in 1956 by the Max Planck Society, an independent institution with three departments, the new purpose will be inaugurated in 1959. The other Institute for Occupational Physiology is renamed due to the now shifted focus in 1973 in the Institute for Systems Physiology and 1983, divided into two divisions. In 1992, the Institute for Systems Physiology and Institute of Nutrition Physiology are merged as the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology finally back. The old Institute building at Rheinlanddamm is abandoned and a new institute (now TU Dortmund) occupied in 1999 on the campus of the University of Dortmund.

Departments

Mechanistic Cell Biology

Led by Andrea Musacchio cell division is explored.

Systemic Cell Biology

After the retirement of Rolf KH Kinne realigned as a Department of Cell Biology Department of Systemic since 2006 by Philippe Bastiaens (previously EMBL ), who holds a professorship in parallel at the Technical University of Dortmund. Bastiaens is intended to promote with his experience in the observation of dynamic processes in cell biology by imaging the intended future focus systems biology.

Physical Biochemistry

Under the direction of Roger Goody is both the function of HIV proteins as research also small GTPases as well as the mechanisms of sensory perception and transport of vesicles here.

Chemical Biology

Led by Herbert Waldmann -based chemical substances being researched here on the relationship between structure and physiological effect on natural products. Here, it is examined to what extent the change in the structure of a known substance as an active ingredient, the effect on the cells changed as a whole, for individual proteins and gene expression. For this new chemical synthesis strategies are being developed to make the information once gained back feed into a further optimization of the active ingredient.

Working Groups ( WGs )

Further research will take place in about two dozen working groups.

Emeritus

An Emeritus directs Alfred Wittinghofer, who was from 1993 to 2009 director of the Department of Structural Biology at the Institute and now Emeritus Scientific Member.

Other Facilities

Center for Chemical Genomics

The Center for Chemical Genomics is a joint institution of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology with several other Max Planck Institutes ( Coal Research in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Psychiatry in Munich and Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany ). It is additionally supported by several companies that hope to gain new insights into strategies for drugs. Some of the working groups are located in next to the MPI of Molecular Physiology newly established biomedical center of the Technology Park Dortmund.

Dortmund Protein Facility

The Dortmund Protein Facility is a Hochdurchsatzklonierungs and protein production unit for Molecular Physiology. It allows the use of high-throughput methods in molecular cloning, as well as protein production and analysis should be facilitated and encouraged.

Compound Management and Screening Center ( Comas )

The compound was founded in 2011 Management and screening center set up at the Dortmund MPI has the task of bringing together the currently scattered present compound libraries of the Max Planck Society and coordinated biochemical and cellular screens to use. In an automatic -20 ° C storage substance chemical substances are stored and prepared for distribution under ideal conditions.

International Max Planck Research School in Chemical Biology

In collaboration with the Universities of Dortmund and Bochum MPI offers a graduate program in chemical biology in the context of the International Max Planck Research School ( IMPRS ) on which the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences or even a doctor of philosophy analogous to the English Ph. D leads. . Training is provided in English, not least because the target group are mainly foreign students who graduate in this way in Germany. Since the Max Planck institute is not doctorate-granting institutions, the promotion takes place at one of the participating universities after their promotion order. The IMPRS is about the additional skills of an acknowledgment. The visited as part of the IMPRS lectures but it recognized by the participating universities for promotion requirements. Only a part of the PhD students of the Institute doctorate within the IMPRS.