Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology
Research at the IPMB is focussed on the development, investigation, and application of drugs and bioactive compounds, as well as on the elucidation of molecular and cellular mechanisms of action. This research integrates experimental approaches of chemistry, molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, bioinformatics, and pharmaceutics. Main research areas of our institute include nucleic acids as tools and drug targets, development of new antiinfective drugs, molecular evolution & proteomics, research on neurodegenerative diseases, systems biology as well as drug targeting and transport.
News:
Receptor for the APP fragment APPsα discovered: publication in "The EMBO Journal"
A cleavage product of the Alzheimer's Amyloid precursor protein APP stimulates, synapse density, synaptic plasticity and memory. The secreted ectodomain of APP, known as APPsα, acts as a soluble signalling molecule on other nerve cells. A research team led by Prof. Ulrike Müller gained new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying its physiological functions and discovered a receptor for APPsα. The work was published in "The EMBO Journal“ publiziert. For more information, please refer to the website of Heidelberg university.
Computer-based Analysis of Bacteria – Publication in „Nature Communications“
The research group of PD Dr. Karl Rohr has developed a new automatic method for analyzing live cell microscopy images of bacteria. The method was used to investigate different nutrient conditions to study the role of memory in the B. subtilis life cycle. The work was published in the journal Nature Communications
Automatic Cell Tracking in Microscopy Images – Publication in „Nature Methods“
HeiDelTec on the route to success
Heidelberg Delivery Technologies, HeiDelTec GmbH, a new start-up com-pany arose from the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology. After successful participation in the Exist-Research-Transfer Program of the BMWi the IPMB leads basic pharmaceutical research to practical ap-plication thus setting new pulses in the area of improving bioavailability and effectiveness of drug formulations. For further Information, follow this link.
Structure and Function of the first bacterial decapping enzyme: Publication in "Nature Chemical Biology"
Structure of Zika virus protease and inhibitor: Publication in "Science"
The group of Prof. Christian Klein co-authored a publication in "Science"that describes the three-dimensional structure of the Zika virus protease. This enzyme is a target protein for the discovery of antiviral drugs against Zika and related, emerging pathogens such as dengue and West Nile virus. See also: "Zika-Virus: Struktur eines Schlüsselenzyms aufgeklärt."
Protein Repairs Nerve Cell Damage
