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Protein structures are wonderful examples of self-organization in biological systems. During the folding process a protein forms a highly complex three-dimensional functional machine from a random polymer coil Understanding folding is one of the key challenges in biophysics. Our group uses single molecule mechanical methods like AFM and optical tweezers to study folding, material properties and function of proteins. Projects range from mechanical studies of molecular motors The projects are highly interdisciplinary and often close collaborations with biologists and biochemists.
- H. Dietz and M. Rief (2004). Exploring the
energy landscape of GFP by single-molecule mechanical
experiments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 101(46):
p. 16192-7.
- I. Schwaiger, A. Kardinal, M. Schleicher,
A.A. Noegel, and M. Rief (2004). A mechanical
unfolding intermediate in an actin-crosslinking
protein. Nat Struct Mol Biol, 11(1):
p. 81-5.
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