Research Groups

Bottanelli Group - Membrane trafficking

Stricker Lab - Biochemistry and Genetics

Chakrabarti Lab - mRNA-Metabolism

Knaus Lab - Signal Transduction

Wahl Lab - Structural Biochemistry

Ewers Lab - Membrane Biochemistry

Heyd Lab - RNA Biochemistry

Freund Lab - Protein Biochemistry
Image Credits

Francesca Bottanelli
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Sigmar Stricker
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Sutapa Chakrabarti
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Petra Knaus
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Markus Wahl
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Helge Ewers
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Florian Heyd
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Christian Freund
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Recent Research

Freund in Nature Chemical Biology
In this paper by Abualrous et al., catalyzed peptide exchange, a process that shapes T cell responses, is reported for 12 different MHC class II variants. Experimental approaches taken by the Freund laboratory are combined with a theoretical description by the Noe group. It is shown that the population of a transient state has predictive value for catalyzed exchange and that MHC class II dynamics correlates with the odds ratio for the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis.

Kotsaris and Stricker in NPJ Regenerative Medicine
The Stricker group shows that Osr1 is a central transcriptional regulator of fibro-adipogenic progenitors during skeletal muscle regeneration

Chakrabarti in RNA
Modulation of RNA binding properties of the RNA helicase UPF1 by its activator UPF2

Heyd in EMBO Mol Med
A splicing-based mechanism may form the basis for a new therapeutic concept
in neurodegenerative diseases

Preussner & Heyd in Science Advances
Regulation of alternative splicing after step 1 by C* factors

Jia et al. in Nature Communication
Extended DNA threading through a dual-engine motor module of the activating signal co-integrator 1 complex

Vester et al. in Acta Crystallographica D
Conformation-dependent ligand hot spots in the spliceosomal RNA helicase, BRR2

Knaus in BMC Biology
Atheroprone fluid shear stress-regulated ALK1-Endoglin-SMAD signaling originates from early endosomes

Dang et al. in Nature Communications
Molecular basis of antibiotic self-resistance in a bee larvae pathogen

Vester et al. in Communications Biology
Recruitment of a splicing factor to the nuclear lamina for its inactivation

Huang et al. in Methods in Enzymology
Fluorogenic RNA aptamers to probe transcription initiation and co-transcriptional RNA folding by multi-subunit RNA polymerases

Barthel et al. in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Large-scale crystallographic fragment screening expedites compound optimization and identifies putative protein-protein interaction sites

Preußner et al. in Acta Crystallographica D
Structural and functional investigation of the human snRNP assembly factor AAR2 in complex with the RNase H-like domain of PRPF8

Fritsch et al. in Molecular Microbiology
The MerR‐family regulator NmlR is involved in the defense against oxidative stress in Streptococcus pneumonia

Franz et al. in Life Science Alliance
Branch point strength controls species-specific CAMK2B alternative splicing and regulates LTP

Dimos et al in Microbial Cell Factories
Biotechnological potential and initial characterization of two novel sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota Coniophora puteana for heterologous production of δ-cadinol

Bergfort et al. in Nature Communications
A multi-factor trafficking site on the spliceosome remodeling enzyme BRR" recruits C9ORF78 to regulate alternative splicing

Jehle et al. in Molecular Systems Biology
A human kinase yeast array for the identification of kinases modulating phosphorylation-dependent protein–protein interactions

Bergfort et al. in Nucleic Acids Research
The intrinsically disordered TSSC4 protein acts as a helicase inhibitor, placeholder and multi-interaction coordinator during snRNP assembly and recycling

Mittermeier et al. in Molecular Microbiology
A non-native C-terminal extension of the β’ subunit compromises RNA polymerase and Rho functions

Said & Wahl in Transcription
Transcription complexes as RNA chaperones

Dimos and Helmer in Acta Cryst. D
CryoEM analysis of small plant biocatalysts at sub-2 A°
resolution

He in Epilepsia
The molecular and phenotypic spectrum of CLCN4-related epilepsy

Lan et al. in Nature Communication
Exchange catalysis by tapasin exploits conserved and allele-specific features of MHC-I molecules

Grass et al. in PNAS
Large-scale ratcheting in a bacterial DEAH/RHA-type RNA helicase that modulates antibiotics susceptibility

Absmeier et al. in JBC
Long-range allostery mediates cooperative adenine nucleotide binding by the Ski2-like RNA helicase Brr2

Reichenbach et al. in Advanced Biology
Differential Impact of Fluid Shear Stress and YAP/TAZ on BMP/TGF‐β Induced Osteogenic Target Genes

Knaus in Stem Cell Rev and Rep
ActivinA Induced SMAD1/5 Signaling in an iPSC Derived EC
Model of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Can Be Rescued by the
Drug Candidate Saracatinib

Geertsema in Nature Biotechnology
Left-handed DNA-PAINT for improved super-resolution imaging in the nucleus

Li in Nature Communications
Directed manipulation of membrane proteins by fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles

Pei in Nature Communications
The δ subunit and NTPase HelD institute a two-pronged mechanism for RNA polymerase recycling

Roske in Nucleic Acids Research
A skipping rope translocation mechanism in a widespread family of DNA repair helicases
Roske in Nucleic Acids Research

Loll in JACS
Loll in JACS: The Impression of a Nonexisting Catalytic Effect: The Role of CotB2 in Guiding the Complex Biosynthesis of Cyclooctat-9-en-7-ol

Said in Science
Steps toward translocation-independent RNA polymerase inactivation by terminator ATPase ρ

Preussner in EMBO Reports
Neumann in EMBO Reports
Neumann, Heyd, Preußner - Alternative splicing coupled mRNA decay shapes
the temperature‐dependent transcriptome

Stricker in Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Stricker in Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle: Cell autonomous requirement of neurofibromin (Nf1) for postnatal muscle hypertrophic growth and metabolic homeostasis

Hiepen in Cells
Hiepen, Mendes, Knaus in Cells:
"It Takes Two to Tango:
Endothelial TGFβ/BMP Signaling Crosstalk with Mechanobiology"

Huang in Molecular Cell
Huang - Structure-Based Mechanisms of a Molecular RNA Polymerase/Chaperone Machine Required for Ribosome Biosynthesis

Freund in Brain
Freund in Brain
Syntaxin-1B mutations reveal clear molecular disease mechanisms that translate into distinct neurophysiological phenotypes

Knaus in Bone
Knaus in Bone
BMP signalling in a mechanical context – Implications for bone biology

Meinke in eLife
Meinke et al, in eLife
Srsf10 and the minor spliceosome control
tissue-specific and dynamic SR protein expression

Haltenhof in Molecular Cell
Tom Haltenhof et al. in Molecular Cell: A conserved kinase-based body
temperature sensor globally controls alternative splicing and gene
expression

Knaus in MBC of the cell
Knaus-AMOT130 drives BMP-SMAD signaling at the apical membrane in polarized cells

Hiepen in PLOS Biology
Hiepen-BMPR2 acts as a gatekeeper to protect endothelial cells from increased TGFβ responses and altered cell mechanics

Chakrabarti in Nature Communications
Chakrabarti - Insights into the assembly and architecture of a Staufen-mediated mRNA decay (SMD)-competent mRNP

Loll in Beilstein J Org Chem
Loll - Current understanding and biotechnological application of the bacterial diterpene synthase CotB2

Wahl in Nucleic Acids Research
Wahl - Structural basis for the function of SuhB as a transcription factor in ribosomal RNA synthesis

Freund in Structure
Freund - Exon Inclusion Modulates Conformational Plasticity and Autoinhibition of the Intersectin 1 SH3A Domain

Stauber in eLIFE
Stauber - A FRET sensor of C-terminal movement reveals VRAC activation by plasma membrane DAG signaling rather than ionic strength

DeBortoli in Nucleic Acids Research
F. De Bortoli - Increased versatility despite reduced molecular complexity: evolution, structure and function of metazoan splicing factor PRPF39

Neumann in Journal of Cell Science
A. Neumann - Genome-wide identification of
alternative splicing events that regulate protein transport across the
secretory pathway

Sticht in Biophysical Journal
J. Sticht - FBP21’s C-Terminal Domain Remains Dynamic When Wrapped around the c-Sec63 Unit of Brr2 Helicase

Driller in Nature Communications
R. Driller - Towards a comprehensive understanding of the
structural dynamics of a bacterial diterpene
synthase during catalysis

Stricker in Stem Cell Research
S. Stricker - Odd skipped-related 1 (Osr1) identifies muscle-interstitial fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) activated by acute injury

Loll in Nature Communications
B. Loll - Molecular insights into antibiotic resistance - how a binding protein traps albicidin

Stricker in Development
S. Stricker - Genome-wide strategies identify downstream target genes of connective tissue-associated transcription factors

Stricker in PLoS ONE
Sigmar Stricker - Cooperation of BMP and IHH signaling in interdigital cell fate determination

Wollenhaupt in Biophysical Journal
Jan Wollenhaupt - Intrinsically Disordered Protein Ntr2 Modulates the Spliceosomal RNA Helicase Brr2

Loll in ChemBioChem
B. Loll: Ketonization of Proline Residues in the Peptide Chains of Actinomycins by a 4-Oxoproline Synthase

Loll in ChemCatChem
B. Loll: Rhodococcus erythropolis Oleate Hydratase: a New Member in the Oleate Hydratase Family Tree
Image Credits

230510 Freund in nature chemical biology
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230411 Kotsaris
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270323 Sutapa
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230323 Heyd
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230314 Preussner in Science Advances
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230313 Jia et al. in Nature Communication
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230312 Vester et al. in Acta Crystallographica D
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230113 Knaus in BMC Biology
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221219F Dang
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221219E Vester
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221219D Huang
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221219C Barthel
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221219B Preußner
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221219A Fritsch
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221219bc Franz et al. in Life Science Alliance
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Dimos et al in Mircobial Cell Factories
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Bergfort et al. in Nature Communications
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A human kinase yeast array for the identification of kinases modulating phosphorylation-dependent protein–protein interactions
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220223 Bergfort et al. in Nucleic Acids Research
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220222 Mittermeier et al. in Molecular Microbiology
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Transcription complexes as RNA chaperones
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220106-cover
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210810 He in Epilepsia
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Lan in Nature Communications
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Grass in PNAS
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210726 Absmeier in JBC
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Reichenbach
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Knaus-in-Stem-Cell-Rev-and-Rep
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Geertsema in Nature Biotechnology
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Li in Nature Communications
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210104 Pei in Nature Communications
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Roske in Nucleic Acids Research
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201208 Loll in JACS
Image Credit: JACS

Said in Science
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201123 Preussner in EMBO Reports
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Nf1
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Hiepen in Cell
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200930Huang
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Freund-in-Brain
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Knaus in Bone
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Meinke et al in eLife
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Haltenhof in Molecular Cell
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200201-Knaus in MBC of the cell
Image Credit: MBC of the cell

200114-Hiepen in PLOS Biol
Image Credit: PLOS

191108-Sutapa
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Loll in Beilstein J Org Chem
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091019-Wahl-Nucleic Acids Res
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190910-Freund
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190627-Stauber-eLIFE
Image Credit: T. Stauber

190416 Francesca PRPF39 structure
Image Credit: DeBortoli

neumann_zelle1-3
Image Credit: Alex Neumann

190212-Jana-Sticht-Feb-2019-a
Image Credit: Sticht/Biophysical Journal

Driller/Nature Communications
Image Credit: Driller/Nature Communications

070918-Stricker
Image Credit: Stricker/Stem Cell Research

180809-Loll
Image Credit: B. Loll/Nature Communications

080818-Stricker
Image Credit: S. Stricker/Development

070818-Stricker-PLoS
Image Credit: S. Stricker/PLoS one

online access
Image Credit: J. Wollenhaupt

online access
Image Credit: B. Loll

online access
Image Credit: B. Loll