News

2025

Portrait of Philippe Bastiaens in black and white

The Max Planck Institute in Dortmund mourns the loss of Philippe Bastiaens

Philippe Bastiaens was a leading and world-renowned researcher in the field of systems biology. His death is a great loss for the Dortmund Institute and the Max Planck Society.
_{May 19, 2025} [more]

group photo of the best biology graduates in NRW

Award for the best biology graduates in NRW

We congratulate the best biology A-level students of NRW, who were awarded the Karl-von-Frisch Prize by the VBIO at a ceremony at the MPI in Dortmund
_{June 18, 2025} [more]

Promising Parkinson's drug decoded

Elucidation of the mode of action of a promising drug candidate lays the foundation for the development of targeted therapies for Parkinson's disease and chronic kidney disease
_{May 05, 2025} [more]

Max Haase received the Marie Curie Fellowship

We congratulate Max Haase Postdoc in the lab of Director Andrea Musacchio on receiving the highly-coveted Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the European Commission
_{April 01, 2025} [more]

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Today, we would like to celebrate our postdoc and mother Louisa Hill, who recently received one of the prestigious EMBO Fellowships. In this interview, we asked her about her career, her interests and her goals.
_{February 11, 2025} [more]

A molecular syringe paves the way to new therapeutic approaches

The attack mechanism by which certain pathogenic bacteria inject deadly enzymes into their hosts.
_{February 05, 2025}
[more]

2024

Scheme of a Bonsai with people gardening. On the Baonsai and trimming there are chemical elements

Molecular gardening: New enzymes discovered for protein modification pruning

How deubiquitinases USP53 and USP54 cleave long polyubiquitin chains and how the former is linked to liver disease in children
_{December 18, 2024} [more]

group of people and text: "may green lab certification"

First sustainable ”Green Lab“ at the MPI

Stefan Raunser's laboratory is one of the first two laboratories within the Max Planck Society to be certified as a sustainable Green Lab with silver by My Green Lab.
_{December 03, 2024} [more]

Sebastian Tacke honored with Paper of the Year Award

Innovative technical development in the field of cryo-electron tomography awarded
_{November 21, 2024} [more]

Messenger RNA (blue) is protected from degradation (yellow)

Don’t kill the messenger RNA!

First mRNA stabilizing substance could open new ways in the development of innovative mRNA therapeutics
_{16. October, 2024} [more]

Roboter im COMAS auf der täglichen Suche nach neuen bioaktiven Substanzen

Promising substance against rare cancer out-licensed

Success for drug researchers at the University Alliance Ruhr
_{October 11, 2024} [more]

Presentation of the ORCHEM Prize 2024 by Prof Dr Daniel B. Werz (left) as Chairman of the Liebig Association to Dr Malte Gersch (right).

ORCHEM Prize 2024 awarded to Malte Gersch

The ORCHEM Prize 2024 of the Liebig Association for Organic Chemistry of the GDCh was awarded to Malte Gersch in Regensburg
_{September 13, 2024} [more]

Chromosomes (blue) with proteins (green, red) localized at the centromere.

How cells maintain their central processing unit for cell division

MPI scientists from Dortmund unveiled the role of enzyme PLK1 in regulating centromeres’ restoration after cell division, a process at the basis of life
_{October 07, 2024} [more]

Renowned Cothenius Medal for Max Planck scientist Roger Sidney Goody

National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina honours biochemist's life's work
_{August 23, 2024} [more]

Award for the best biology graduates in NRW

We congratulate the best biology A-level students of NRW, who were awarded the Karl-von-Frisch Prize by the VBIO at a ceremony at the MPI in Dortmund
_{June 20, 2024} [more]

Where to put head and tail?

beta-Catenin discovered as a new key player in the formation of the main body axis during mammalian embryogenesis
_{June 18, 2024} [more]

Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation supports research of Peng Wu

Peng Wu receives ~1 million euros from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation for the development of novel RNA-targeting drugs
_{June 11, 2024} [more]

group photo: Malte Gersch, Gavin Rice, Thorsten Wagner (from left to right)

Max Planck scientists honoured with Biomedicine Award

Three MPI researchers awarded for medically relevant cutting-edge research in the field of electron microscopy and protein degradation
_{May 29, 2024} [more]

Crowd seen from above, pale in color, with two people wearing bright red clothing

Biomolecular condensates: Are they condensates?

A strategy by MPI scientist to assess the role of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) drivers in cell division reveals poor predictive power of established LLPS assays
_{April 23, 2024} [more]

A ring showing a protein structure lies in the palm of a hand. The hand hovers above an erupting volcano. The background is black.

“One ring to rule them all”: how actin filaments are assembled by formins

Max Plank researchers from Dortmund unveil at the molecular level how ring-like formin proteins promote actin filament growth in cells
_{April 16, 2024} [more]

A promising target for new RNA therapeutics now accessible

Chemists in Dortmund have identified the first inhibitors of the cancer-related RNA-modifier METTL16 and have thus taken a first step towards new therapeutic options
_{April 8, 2024} [more]

NRW-Wissenschaftsministerin Ina Brandes zu Besuch

Am 21.02.24 hat Ina Brandes, Ministerin für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW, das Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie besucht und sich über die exzellente Forschungsarbeit des Instituts informiert.
_{February 21 , 2024} [more]

Two structures of Mcf1 which resembles a seahorse, lie facing each other in front of a green and blue background

Identify, engage, assassinate: How seahorse-like toxins kill insects

Max Planck researchers from Dortmund reveal the first-ever detailed structure of the bacterial toxin Mcf1
_{January 31, 2024} [more]

Single-celled kamikazes spearhead bacterial infection

How a few soldier cells confer virulence to an entire bacterial population by sacrificing themselves
_{January 19, 2024} [more]

2023

Bachem AtPS Award for Peptide Science for Peter ‘t Hart

Peter ‘t Hart, Group Leader at the Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society in Dortmund received the Bachem AtPS Award for Peptide Science for his research on the Protein-RNA interactions, during the 12th Austrian Peptide Symposium on Dec. 5th, 2023, in Vienna, Austria.
_{December 14, 2023}

New way to force pathogenic proteins into degradation

Researchers develop novel cancer protein killer and discover a new ligase for PROTACs
_{December 11, 2023}

Illustration of the interacting thick and thin filaments in the cardiac sarcomere based on structural cryo electron-tomography data.

Breakthrough Discovery Sheds Light on Heart and Muscle Health

Scientists shoot first true-to-life 3D image of the thick filament of mammalian heart muscle
_{November 01, 2023}

Two new Humboldtians at the MPI Dortmund

Laura Posada and Ryan Hylton receive Humboldt Fellowship - congratulations!
_{October 23, 2023}

Phosphate escapes through backdoor, "Actin" sprayed on the wall as graffiti

Through the backdoor: How phosphate escapes from actin

MPI scientists reveal how phosphate escapes from actin filaments – a key signal that primes older filaments for disassembly
_{September 27, 2023}

portrait of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann

Herbert Waldmann receives Otto Hahn Award 2023

Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann will be honoured with the Otto Hahn Award 2023 for his innovative drug research at the interface of chemistry and biology.
_{September 21, 2023}

Career choice in stem cells: Predetermined or self-selected?

Max Planck Scientists from Dortmund show how the signaling molecules BMP and FGF act as antagonists during embryonic development and thus guide cell differentiation
_{September 18, 2023}

Getting protein factories to run – How deubiquitinating enzymes moonlight as Fubi proteases

Max Planck researchers identify mechanisms of key players in the maturation process of ribosomes with chemical biology tool kit
_{August 11, 2023}

from left to right - Asifa Akhtar, Eric, Andrea Musacchio

Otto Hahn Medal for Zhexin “Eric“ Wang

For his exceptional scientific achievments in the field of muscle research, the Max Planck Society has awarded Zhexin "Eric" Wang the prestigious Otto Hahn Medal 2022
_{June 22, 2023}

Award for the best biology graduates in NRW

We congratulate the best biology A-level students of NRW on receiving the Karl-von-Frisch Prize
_{June 15, 2023}

BRAIN LOGISTICS: Missing link explains mRNA delivery in brain cells

Teams from MPI Institutes in Dresden, Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main and Göttingen have joined forces to gain the first evidence of a protein complex responsible for the transport of messenger RNA in neurons
_{June 1, 2023}

Nature-inspired compounds chopping up RNA

Chemists climb a new path to ascend cancer’s steepest research challenges

A team of RNA scientists, chemists and cancer biologists from Florida, Dortmund and Münster have found new possibilities for targeting cancer genes’ RNA with nature-inspired compounds
_{May 24, 2023}

TomoTwin processing map for a tomogram flattened to 2D

Novel AI-based software enables quick and reliable imaging of proteins in cells

Max Planck researchers from Dortmund programmed a tool that accurately recognises and picks proteins in electron cryo-tomography, substituting troublesome hand selection
_{May 15, 2023}

MPI welcomes new Max Planck Research Group Leader Katarzyna Kliza

Research of new Max Planck Research Group Leader has potential to uncover new clinically relevant targets
_{April 26, 2023}

2022

ERC Starting Grant for Peter ‘t Hart

Max Planck Researcher from Dortmund receives €1.5 million to develop innovative molecular glues with therapeutic potential
_{November 22, 2022}

Cryo-EM reconstruction of F-actin bound to Mg2+-ADP-BeF3. at 2.2 Å resolution.

A pocket full of water molecules – how actin filaments drive the cell’s motion

Max Planck researchers from Dortmund reveal the tiniest details of actin filaments
_{October 26, 2022}

Zhexin “Eric” Wang receives the International Birnstiel Award 2022

Max Planck PhD Student from Dortmund is one of six brilliant young scientists awarded
_{September 30, 2022}

Mechanism of bacterial toxins in deadly attacks

Cryo-EM and protein NMR 3D snapshots reveal sophisticated mechanism of action of a bacterial Tc toxin
_{August 03, 2022}

Andrea Musacchio appointed new Vallee Visiting Professor

Internationally recognized leaders in the biomedical sciences honored by Vallee Foundation
_{July 29, 2022}

winners of the Karl von Frisch Award in front of the MPI Dortmund.

Award for the best biology high school graduates in NRW

Karl von Frisch Award ceremony for best biology high school graduates at the MPI Dortmund
_{June 22, 2022}

Herbert Waldmann honoured for pioneering contribution to Chemical Biology

The European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology has awarded Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann the „Nauta Pharmacochemistry Award in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology“
_{May 16, 2022}

Organization of the human CCAN. Left: Scheme of the kinetochore organization with the CCAN subcomplexes binding to the centromere protein A (CENP-A). Right: Model of the surface of the CCAN’s 16 components organized in different subcomplexes.

Structure of key protein for cell division puzzles researchers

Max Planck Institute’s researchers provide a first 3D snapshot of the CCAN protein complex and raise fundamental questions towards the creation of artificial chromosomes
_{May 13, 2022}

Special Honour for Max Planck Researcher Stefan Raunser

Stefan Raunser has been elected to the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts
_{May 12, 2022}

Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation supports research of Dr. Peter ‘t Hart

Dr. Peter ‘t Hart receives 90.000 Euros from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation for his research on cyclized peptides
_{May 04, 2022}

Crowning a quest into a very well-guarded secret: Structure of the kinetochore corona finally revealed

Max Planck researchers in Dortmund uncover what constitutes the "crown” of the kinetochore
_{April 08, 2022}

Sunit Pal receives highly-coveted Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship

Congratulations!
_{April 06, 2022}

96-well plate mit Testsystem zum Nachweis von Coronavirus-Antikörpern.

Booster for immune protection after Corona infection

Dortmund research initiative proves benefit of vaccination after recovery from COVID-19
_{March 16, 2022}

A new dimension in Stem Cell Signaling

German-Argentinian Max Planck Partner groups reveal molecular morse code in stem cells encrypting differentiation information
_{February 24, 2022}

Nebulin no longer nebulous! Scientists obtain first high-resolution 3D image of muscle protein

Max Planck Institute’s researchers visualise the structure of the muscle protein nebulin using electron cryo-tomography
_{February 17, 2022}

3D structure of the Pseudomonas protegens RhsA effector.

Bacteria’s hidden weapon: toxins locked inside a capsule secured by a cork

New insights into the bacterial type VI secretion system could one day help to develop antibacterial and antifungal applications
_{February 09, 2022}

Model for the docking of Mon1 (blue) /Ccz1 (green) onto membranes.

First 3D structure of regulator protein revealed

Research team creates molecular basis for a better understanding of the regulation of cellular degradation processes
_{February 03, 2022}

In search of (un)desired side effects

Morphological fingerprinting could help identify side effects and new bioactive compounds in drug discovery
_{January 26, 2022}

MPI welcomes new Max Planck Research Group Leader Sidney Becker

Sidney Becker wants to kickstart evolution to understand how life evolved from pure chemistry
_{January 05, 2022}

2021

Finding new channels to selectively target pest insects

Max Planck researchers reveal how potassium channels work in insects and discover new ways to target them
_{December 10, 2021}

Ordered from afar: How germs’ toxins become dangerous

Max Planck Institute’s researchers highlight the mechanism that enhances toxicity of pathogens in the human cell
_{November 16, 2021}

How pruning the cytoskeleton moves the cell

An interdisciplinary team of Max Planck Scientists has unraveled the enigmatic mechanism behind actin branching
_{September 17, 2021}

Ultra-rapid cryo-arrest microscope with person behind the device.

Cool Microscopy

Ultrarapid cooling enables the observation of molecular patterns of life
_{December 13, 2021}

Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) supports Peng Wu

MPI of Molecular Physiology supported by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
_{December 21, 2021}

Stem cells do not (only) play dice

Stem cells work as a team and do not leave their fate to pure chance
_{November 08, 2021}

MPG Trainee Award for Lukas Braun

Lukas Braun, IT specialist/system integration trainee, received the MPG 2021 Trainee Award in a small ceremony
_{September 06, 2021}

Mayor Thomas Westphal presents the Cross of Merit to Professor Dr. Rolf Kinne.

Former MPI Director Prof. Dr Kinne receives the Federal Cross of Merit

Dortmund's Mayor Thomas Westphal has awarded the Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Rolf Kinne, the former director of the MPI (1983 - 2005)
_{August 25, 2021}

Characterized drugs show unexpected effects

Known and yet unexpected: many active substances influence the cholesterol homeostasis and thereby possibly a SARS-CoV-2 infection
_{July 22, 2021}

Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation supports research of Dr. Peng Wu

Dr. Peng Wu receives 90.000 Euros from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation for his research on the degradation of mRNA
_{July 15, 2021}

Charles Loh Receives Funding from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation

The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation awards 900.000 Euros of funding to Dr. Charles Loh for the development of novel glycosylation reactions to access pharmaceutically relevant carbohydrate derivatives
_{July 01, 2021}

Manufacturing the Core Engine of Cell Division

By modelling the kinetochore from scratch, Max Planck Institute’s researchers get a step closer to creating artificial chromosomes
_{June 30, 2021}

What Termites and Cells Have in Common

An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the MPI Dortmund created a synthetic cell with life-like properties that revealed fundamental principles of morphogenesis and perception
_{June 24, 2021}

Research consortium with Max Planck participation receives 10 million Euros in DFG funding

Research consortium around Prof. Andrea Musacchio receives DFG funding to investigate mechanisms that regulate organismal development and regeneration
_{May 25, 2021}

Otto Hahn Medal for Elena Reckzeh

Dr. Elena Reckzeh is awarded the Otto Hahn Medal 2020 of the Max Planck Society for her outstanding scientific achievements in the field of chemical biology
_{April 28, 2021}

Zooming in on Muscle Cells

Max Planck Institute’s researchers use electron cryo-tomography to reveal novel molecular details of skeletal sarcomeres
_{March 24, 2021}

Elisabeth Hennes is searching for potential IDO1 inhibitors with the nerwly developed cell-based assay.

Stimulating the Immune System to Fight Cancer

Max Planck scientists from Dortmund find immunoregulatory substances with newly developed test system
_{March 17, 2021}

Dr. Sebastian Tacke working at the modified Cryo-FIB Aquilos (ThermoFisher Scientific).

Delmic licenses Cryo Workflow Tools developed together with Max Planck Scientists

New product to be launched in March simplifies cryo electron tomography
_{March 10, 2021}

Dynamical model reveals how cell-cell communication in a growing population can trigger differentiation and robust cell type proportions (top), but also recover the exact proportions (middle and bottom) if cell types are separated by perturbation.

Cells talk to each other to specialize different functions

The group of Aneta Koseska developed a new concept to describe how cells specialize during development
_{February 16, 2021}

VolkswagenStiftung supports corona research in Dortmund

Dr. Peng Wu receives research funding of approximately 120,000 euros for the development of innovative anti-corona therapeutics
_{February 10, 2021}

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Waldmann, Director of the Department of Chemical Biology at the Max Planck Institute of molecular Physiology (MPI) in Dortmund, has received the Richard Willstätter Prize at the “Advances in Chemical Biology” conference

Richard Willstätter Prize for Chemical Biology awarded for the first time

Herbert Waldmann has been awarded the Richard Willstätter Prize for his outstanding contributions in the field of chemical biology
_{January 28, 2021}

2020

Schematic of the peroxisomal Pex14pPex17p docking complex, revealed using electron cryo microscopy.

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2020

IMPRS - Distinguished Guests Seminar Series

IMPRS - Distinguished Guests Seminar Series