About SFB749

Dynamics and Intermediates of Molecular Transformations

 

For the improvement of chemical reactions and in order to get a deeper understanding of basic chemical and biochemical processes, the investigation of the dynamic properties of molecules and biomolecules is increasingly necessary. Understanding chemical and biochemical transformations require a more dynamic view of the reaction parameters. Proteins and peptides fold along different folding pathways into their active conformations. Enzymes speed up reactions along defined reaction trails by stabilization the transition states and reactive intermediates. Also chemical transformations and in particular metal organic reactions proceed over active complexes or reactive intermediates of often unknown structure. These reactive intermediates form in solution in a time- and concentration dependant way. The investigation of the structures of the reactive intermediates and of the dynamics of the chemical and biochemical transformations requires an alliance of chemistry and biochemistry with theoretical and physical chemistry. We have to study chemical and biochemical transformation directly in the domain of time, which needs the application of sophisticated time resolving measurement methods. The researchers of the Collaborative Research Center 749 "Dynamics and Intermedtiates of Molecular Transformations" investigate reaction mechanisms. They study ionic reactions, radical reactions and metal organic reactions as well as biochemical transformations inside active sides of enzymes. Finally the folding of peptides and small proteins into their bioactive conformations is investigated. In all projects chemistry and biochemistry is linked to modern time resolving UV-, fluorescences and IR-spectroscopic methods in order to learn about chemical and biochemical transformations in the domain of time. The common goal of the SFB 749 is to obtain a deeper understanding of reactions and folding mechanisms.

 

The SFB 749 is located in Munich. The researchers are either associated with the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) or with the Technical University (TUM). The researcher are located in the departments of Chemistry and Physics at both universities. As such the SFB 749 links both Chemistry departments in Großhadern and Garching tightly together.

 

Research in the SFB749 features three interconnected research areas:

 

 

The SFB749 holds a close collaboration with the Excellence Cluster "Center for Integrative Protein Science Munich CIPSM". CIPSM finances key appointments and provides support for the chemical science infrastructure.

 


Photogallery: Impressions of Großhadern/Martinsried

Photogallery: Impressions of Garching



 

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