löw Archives

15 October 2024 Visual metaphor showing the transport of vitamin B1 in the body.

Vitamin B1’s journey in your body, and why it matters

EMBL Hamburg scientists have gained molecular insights into how we absorb vitamin B1 – a mechanism with implications for disease and drug development.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2024

science-technology

6 June 2024 A schematic of transport of dipeptides (white sticks) by the GLMP–MFSD1 complex. The transporter undergoes the common alternating access mechanism transitioning from outward-open conformation after dipeptide binding in the lysosomal lumen, to the occluded state where both sides of the binding site are closed, to the inward-open conformation enabling dipeptide release to the cytoplasm.

A schematic of transport of dipeptides (white sticks) by the GLMP–MFSD1 complex. The transporter undergoes the common alternating access mechanism transitioning from outward-open conformation after dipeptide binding in the lysosomal lumen, to the occluded state where both sides of the binding site are closed, to the inward-open conformation enabling dipeptide release to the cytoplasm.

Structure and function of new lysosome transporter revealed

The group of Christian Löw at EMBL Hamburg and CSSB, and collaborators from the Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel and CNRS & Université Paris Cité worked together to reveal the structure and function of a previously unknown lysosome transporter, MFSD1.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2024

science-technology

15 November 2023 Illustration showing a doorknob with a lock and many protein-marked keys floating towards it.

The secret of molecular promiscuity

Promiscuity is critical for nourishment. How? This question lies at the focus of research by the Löw Group at EMBL Hamburg. Using structural biology methods, they explore how specialised molecules located in the cell membrane allow cells absorb nutrients from their environment.

EMBLetc

2023

3 November 2021

In the left, a sketch of the human digestive tract, with pills in the stomach. On the right, a magnifying glass shows a model of the peptide transporter 1 in the cell membrane in the intestine wall. The pills from the left part of the image form a path made of smaller particles, and individual molecules represented by structural formulas. The path connects the intestine on the left to the opening of PepT1 and continues on the other side of the intestine wall. Individual drug molecules enter PepT1 and are transported to the other side of the cell membrane.

Structure of a promiscuous protein will help scientists design better drugs

Scientists at EMBL Hamburg determined the molecular structure of Peptide Transporters 1 and 2. The findings will enable developing drugs that more efficiently pass from the gut to target tissues.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2021

sciencescience-technology

12 July 2021 Close-up illustration of the Kinesin-1 protein, intertwined with the aTm1 protein in a helix, next to loopy mRNA molecules.

A model of cooperation for transporting mRNA

EMBL scientists generate a high-resolution crystal structure of the Kinesin-1/aTm1 transport complex in the fruit fly.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2021

sciencescience-technology

4 November 2020

SARS-CoV-2 is represented as a sphere with spike proteins poking out of its surface, which give it a corona-like appearance. The spike proteins resemble triangular ‘bushes’ with three tips at the top. In the background, a cell surface is visible with ACE2 proteins poking out of it in many places. The virus is about to attach to the cell surface. The sybodies, represented as tiny V-shaped structures, bind to the viral spike proteins at their tips.

Scientists identify synthetic mini-antibody to combat COVID-19

By screening hundreds of sybodies (synthetic mini-antibodies), scientists have identified one that might stop SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells. This work, which holds promise for treating COVID-19, was conducted by EMBL Hamburg and collaborators from the Centre for Structural Systems Biology…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2020

sciencescience-technology

13 October 2020

Molecular structure of essential light chain protein in Plasmodium glideosome. The atoms connected by bonds are symbolised by short connected lines. They are surrounded by electrons – the electron density is depicted as shapes resembling clouds. Water molecules are visible in several places as red spots. The data used to create this 3D model were obtained using X-ray crystallography at Petra III beamline, at EMBL Hamburg.

How deadly parasites ‘glide’ into human cells

A group of scientists led by EMBL Hamburg’s Christian Löw provide insights into the molecular structure of proteins involved in the gliding movements through which the parasites causing malaria and toxoplasmosis invade human cells.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2020

sciencescience-technology

28 April 2020 Close-up view of the interior of a protein analytics system

Exploring synthetic antibodies to stop coronavirus

Scientists at EMBL Hamburg and Karolinska Institutet Stockholm aim to find synthetic antibodies – known as nanobodies – that bind a surface protein of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Nanobodies could prevent the virus from entering human cells and causing COVID-19.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2020

sciencescience-technology

18 July 2019 Heatmap representing the stability of an integral membrane proteins

First results from CSSB

EMBL scientists collaborate to develop new protocol for screening membrane protein stability

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2019

sciencescience-technology

1 February 2019 The E. coli peptide transporter DtpA in complex with nanobody N00 and the prodrug valganciclovir (highlighted) Credit: Yonca Ural Blimke/EMBL