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structural biology

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12 November 2024 Picture of Nicolas Foos fixing a piece of technological equipment.

Making in situ serial crystallography more accessible

Science & Technology Nicolas Foos, a postdoctoral fellow at EMBL Grenoble, talks about the implementation of a new method for in situ serial crystallography developed during his ARISE fellowship.

2024

science-technology

11 November 2024 Portrait photo of Jan Bláha.

We are EMBL: Jan Bláha on protein crystallisation inside cells

People & Perspectives Jan Bláha, postdoc at EMBL Hamburg, talks about the utility of in cellulo protein crystallisation in structural biology research, his sources of inspiration, and the values of collaboration, curiosity, and resilience.

2024

people-perspectives

23 October 2024

BioChemGraph: Unifying structural and bioactivity data to accelerate drug discovery

In the era of data-driven biology, integrating information from different resources is essential yet often challenging. The BioChemGraph project addresses this challenge by creating infrastructure that consolidates structural, functional, and biochemical annotations for small molecules and their…

2024

updates-from-data-resources

10 October 2024 A multi-coloured donut representing the structure of an NPC.

“Structurally” sound

Science & Technology The function of biological molecules is intimately linked to their structure. In the 50 years since EMBL was established, its researchers and engineers have constantly provided leadership in structural biology research and services, resulting in many scientific breakthroughs and novel insights.

2024

science-technology

25 July 2024 Colourful arts and craft projects on a table

Science City Day at EMBL Hamburg

Lab Matters A major public engagement event at EMBL Hamburg attracted thousands. A video captures the spirit of the day from participants.

2024

lab-matters

2 July 2024

IIT-EMBL: New molecules to modulate gene expression

Science & Technology A new research paper published in Nature Communications lays the groundwork for the development of new drugs specific to genetic mutations or alterations responsible for the onset of tumours or genetic diseases.

2024

science-technology

25 June 2024 In the front, a 3D model of three molecules bound together: METTL6 in (orange), serine tRNA synthetase in (shades of lilac) and serine tRNA (black). In the background an illustration of a construction site. Two trucks with ‘UGA’ and ‘AGA’ written on them are visible at the bottom.

An enzyme with a smart friend

Science & Technology EMBL Grenoble’s Kowalinski Group analysed the structure of an enzyme responsible for modifying tRNA molecules to fine-tune protein production. They discovered that to distinguish almost identical, yet different, tRNA molecules, the enzyme uses help from another enzyme – a type of cooperation…

2024

science-technology

19 June 2024 In the centre: green angular origami-like shapes stacked on top of each other. Small orange rectangles akin to adhesive tape are placed where the green shapes connect with each other. In the background: a circle in the middle and cancer cells on the left and right.

‘Invisible’ protein keeps cancer at bay

Science & Technology EMBL Hamburg scientists and collaborators discovered a new molecular mechanism in which an unstructured protein disables one of the main cancer-promoting proteins by gluing them into an elongated stack. Data from human patient samples support the role of this mechanism in prostate cancer…

2024

science-technology

12 June 2024

AI approaches in structural biology and drug discovery

Connections EMBL Grenoble and the ESRF hosted a workshop bringing together representatives from research and industry to discuss the ever-growing role of artificial intelligence in the field of structural biology.

2024

connections

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.

Structure and function of new lysosome transporter revealed

Science & Technology 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.

2024

science-technology

24 May 2024

Stephen Cusack: what I’ve learned

People & Perspectives Stephen Cusack, world-renowned structural biologist and former Head of EMBL Grenoble, reflects on his early influences, his achievements, and the lessons he’s learned as he embarks on his next adventure

2024

people-perspectives

4 April 2024

Building the cell’s splicing machine

Science & Technology New study from the Galej group provides deeper structural insight into the assembly of a critical molecular machine, that removes non-coding information from genes during their expression.

2024

science-technology

6 March 2024 The background shows a render of a suspension of tumour cells, while an inset shows the structures of two proteins – MAGEA4 and RAD18 – marked in green and blue respectively

Studying the relationship between cancer-promoting proteins

Science & Technology A new study from the Bhogaraju Group at EMBL Grenoble reveals how the cancer-promoting MAGE family of proteins bind to their targets, aiding the development of anti-cancer drugs that target these proteins.

2024

sciencescience-technology

21 December 2023 On the left: image of a protein complex in a shape of a yellow doughnut with blue elements. Above it is a drawing of nucleic acid with arrows connecting nitrogenous bases to different points in the protein complex. On the right: a line with peaks indicating the peaks recorded in mass spectrometry. Above two peaks, there are smaller depictions of the doughnut-shaped complex, one with a blue element and one without.

RNA to rule them all

Science & Technology The Kosinski Group at EMBL Hamburg collaborated with other groups in Hamburg to reveal critical steps in Lassa virus ribonucleoparticle assembly and recruitment, and the crucial role played by RNA in in the Lassa virus life cycle.

2023

sciencescience-technology

14 December 2023 Photo of Selina Storm standing in front of the PETRA III synchrotron storage ring.

We are EMBL: Selina Storm on PETRA IV and new perspectives for EMBL Hamburg

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives EMBL Hamburg is located at the PETRA III synchrotron, which in the future, will be upgraded to PETRA IV. Selina Storm is theEMBL@PETRA IV Programme Manager. Here, she speaks about her role and the benefits of PETRA IV for EMBL.

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

27 November 2023 Photo of two people brainstorming at the table covered with several papers and images related to the research project, such as the structure of the molecule, a map with the Solar Lake marked, photo of EMBL Hamburg, photo of Garo Antranikian looking into a microscope, pages of the manuscript, data graphs, and more.

Hamburg collaboration paves the way to cleaner technologies for industry

Science & Technology An interdisciplinary collaboration between Hamburg scientists has yielded new insights into the structure and function of a heat-resistant enzyme from an exotic microbe. In this interview, EMBL Hamburg’s Matthias Wilmanns and TUHH’s Garo Antranikian discuss how their collaboration developed and…

2023

sciencescience-technology

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

The secret of molecular promiscuity

EMBLetc 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.

2023

15 November 2023 Group picture with mountain in the background

Looking back on 20 years of structural biology collaboration in Grenoble

ConnectionsLab Matters On this date (15 November), 21 years ago, the EMBL, ESRF, ILL, and IBS directors signed a memorandum of understanding to create the Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB) on the European Photon and Neutron (EPN) science campus in Grenoble.

2023

connectionslab-matters

7 November 2023

Enjoying a science day in Grenoble

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL Grenoble was once again present for the science outreach event ‘Parvis des Sciences’ on Saturday 14 October 2023.

2023

connectionslab-matters

1 November 2023 Sihyun Sung is standing next to experimental equipment for time-resolved serial X-ray crystallography. The light in the room is pink.

We are EMBL: Sihyun Sung on time-resolved structural biology

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives In this interview, Sihyun Sung, Postdoctoral Fellow at EMBL Hamburg, talks about making molecular movies with time-resolved serial X-ray crystallography, his sources of inspiration, and the value of forging deeper connections with friends and colleagues.

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

26 October 2023 Photographs of three scientists on a decorative blue background

EMBL scientists receive prestigious ERC Synergy Grants

EMBL Announcements Jan Kosinski, Julia Mahamid, and Georg Zeller have received grants to enable ambitious projects aimed at mapping the cellular protein synthesis machinery in context and understanding complex host-microbiome interactions, respectively.

2023

embl-announcementsscience

26 October 2023

A promising target to fight inflammatory bowel diseases

Science & Technology Researchers from the Cusack group at EMBL Grenoble provide structural insights on the XIAP/RIPK2 complex, a promising drug target to fight inflammatory bowel diseases.

2023

sciencescience-technology

15 September 2023 Group of scientists attending symposium staring upward to the photographer.

Celebrating Stephen Cusack’s contributions to science

People & Perspectives Researchers from across the globe have gathered in Grenoble to celebrate the remarkable lifelong scientific achievements of Stephen Cusack, the former head of EMBL Grenoble.

2023

eventspeople-perspectives

15 September 2023

Switching off the cytokine storm

Science & Technology EMBL Grenoble and University of Geneva researchers shed light on the molecular activation of the MAP kinase p38α, the final ‘switch’ triggering the inflammatory response.

2023

sciencescience-technology

6 September 2023 A drawing of swordfish and a bubble containing a drawing of a molecular model. Both on blue background representing water.

Swordfish sword under X-rays: SAXS explained

Science & Technology Learn how scientists use bio-SAXS, an experimental X-ray technique, to study the shape and dynamics of proteins and other biomolecules. SAXS can be even used to analyse the structure of mineral particles in the swordfish sword bone, which can help scientists better understand bone ageing.

2023

sciencescience-technology

8 August 2023 Clément Blanchet at the EMBL Hamburg’s P12 beamline’s experimental hutch.

Welcome: Clément Blanchet

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Clément Blanchet has been appointed to lead the team working on small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) at EMBL Hamburg. In this interview, he talks his ambitions for the future work of the SAXS Team, his passion for science, and a memorable ‘aha’ moment he had in his early career.

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

21 July 2023 Three-dimensional cartoon of the hexasome with a chromatin remodeler on DNA.

A glimpse into the hexasome: 40 years on

Science & Technology Research from the Eustermann group at EMBL Heidelberg reveals how the packaging of DNA into hexasomes impacts the function of enzymes involved in gene regulation.

2023

sciencescience-technology

10 July 2023 Green parasites on black background

Spotlight: Shedding light on deadly parasites

Lab MattersScience & Technology This single-celled organism the size of a dust particle is capable of causing deadly tropical diseases in both humans and livestock –Trypanosoma brucei, in an image by Luciano Dolce from EMBL.

2023

lab-matterspicture-of-the-weekscience-technology

7 July 2023 Cartoon of a molecule, formed by sticks and spheres.

Facilitating drug discovery against COVID-19

Science & Technology A collaboration between EMBL Grenoble and EBRIS scientists led to the characterisation of a new compound with promising activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

2023

sciencescience-technology

3 July 2023 In the foreground: an intrinsically disordered protein, which has a form of a tangled, unstructured string. In the background: a set of parallel curved lines.

Bringing research on disordered proteins to order

Science & Technology A third of all known proteins are either completely or partially unstructured. EMBL scientists contributed to a new set of guidelines – Minimum Information About a Disorder Experiment (MIADE) – that will help researchers share data on unstructured proteins in a more useful way and will enable…

2023

sciencescience-technology

15 May 2023 Two scientists in a laboratory

Behind the scenes of innovation

EMBLetc EMBL Grenoble technology teams provide a sneak peek into their latest collaborative project in structural biology services: the complete automation of an integral step in X-ray crystallography.

2023

10 May 2023 Illustration showing a cute humanoid-shaped robot that spits pink droplets at a sheet.

Time-resolved crystallography for the masses

Science & Technology EMBL Hamburg scientists have contributed to the development of the Spitrobot, a ground-breaking experimental setup that will simplify creating molecular movies. The Spitrobot automates the sample preparation for time-resolved crystallography, which is used to create 3D snapshots of protein…

2023

sciencescience-technology

12 April 2023 Photo of Eduard Avetisyan smiling and standing next to the servers at EMBL Hamburg.

We are EMBL: Eduard Avetisyan on the role of IT in structural biology

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Eduard Avetisyan leads the EMBL Hamburg IT team. He joined EMBL after transitioning from particle physics research to IT. Besides providing standard IT user support, his team also enables smooth processing and computational analysis of structural biology data. Here, he talks about the joys and…

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

20 March 2023 Team leader Gergely Papp.

Welcome: Gergely Papp

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Together with his team, Gergely Papp pushes the frontiers of technology development in the field of structural biology.

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

1 March 2023 Moisés Bueno is standing next to the transfer robot. The robot has a form of a yellow robotic arm on a stand. Behind is the CrystalDirect™ Harvester, which is a white cuboid with two transparent dimmed windows for laser protection.

Biology meets engineering

Lab MattersScience & Technology Physicists, engineers and robotics experts work together in EMBL Hamburg’s Instrumentation Team to design instruments that support structural biology research. The team has finished a transfer robot that facilitates automated handling of protein crystals with care and precision. This will help…

2023

lab-mattersscience-technology

16 February 2023

New EU-funded Project: Fragment-Screen

Lab MattersScience & Technology EMBL is one of the partners of this project that aims to accelerate drug discovery and development, bringing in expertise from EMBL Grenoble and EMBL-EBI.

2023

lab-mattersscience-technology

15 February 2023 A photo of a scientist operating one of the instruments at the EMBL SPC Facility.

Supporting scientists across Europe: the SPC Facility at EMBL Hamburg

Lab MattersScience & Technology EMBL Hamburg’s Sample Preparation and Characterisation (SPC) Facility offers scientists access to almost all available biophysics technologies. The facility’s staff provides advice and support with experiments and data analysis. The facility is conveniently located just next to the EMBL…

2023

lab-mattersscience-technology

9 January 2023

New molecular insights on medical cannabis

Science & Technology EMBL Grenoble researchers have investigated the interaction between THC and some proteins it might bind to. In a recent study, they showed in vitro that THC inhibits an important human enzyme called autotaxin.

2023

sciencescience-technology

12 December 2022 A mother and her child looking through a microscope

Celebrating science in Grenoble

ConnectionsLab Matters In October 2022, EMBL Grenoble participated in the annual science outreach event Parvis des Sciences, organised by the GIANT campus under the umbrella of the French science week – La Fête de la science.

2022

connectionslab-matters

1 December 2022

Getting closer to stopping toxoplasmosis infection

Science & Technology Recent studies supported by EMBL Grenoble’s expertise in structural biology research and scientific services have identified Altiratinib as a potential drug to stop toxoplasmosis infection and opened up treatment options against malaria.

2022

sciencescience-technology

3 November 2022 View from above of a small room with several tools, cables and pieces of technology. A rectangular box, a robotic arm and a device are highlighted in green.

Two in one: combining MASSIF-1 and CrystalDirect

Lab MattersScience & Technology Researchers and engineers have integrated a CrystalDirect harvester into the fully automated beamline MASSIF-1, a unique combination of structural biology technologies that is now open to external academic users.

2022

lab-mattersscience-technology

20 October 2022 Two EMBL staff members looking at a piece of equipment

Teaming up to drive forward time-resolved crystallography

Lab MattersScience & Technology The recent construction of the new ID29 beamline in Grenoble is pioneering a new way of doing experiments in time-resolved crystallography and opening up technology transfer possibilities

2022

lab-mattersscience-technology

21 September 2022 Photo of the speakers during the panel discussion. Edith Heard is talking. In front of the panel, there is the audience seen from the back, and behind the panel there are banners with the DESY PETAR IV logos and a slide displaying the names of the panellists.

PETRA IV and future opportunities at EMBL Hamburg beamlines

Lab MattersScience & Technology EMBL joined a kick-off event focusing on the developments related to the upgrade of the PETRA III synchrotron storage ring to PETRA IV at the DESY campus, where EMBL Hamburg is located. PETRA IV could open new possibilities at EMBL Hamburg, contributing to the goals of the EMBL Programme…

2022

lab-mattersscience-technology

10 June 2022 A colourful structural model of the doughnut-shaped human nuclear pore complex seen from above.

Puzzling out the structure of a molecular giant

Science & Technology Scientists have solved several mysteries around the structure and function of a true molecular giant: the human nuclear pore complex. They created the most complete model of the complex thanks to combining the program AlphaFold2 with cryo-electron tomography, integrative modelling, molecular…

2022

sciencescience-technology

5 May 2022 Colourful vertical panels each show different microscopic images possible with the high-tech tools in EMBL's Imaging Centre

Enabling imaging across scales

EMBL Announcements EMBL’s first Imaging Centre Symposium will occur onsite at EMBL and include tours of the new Imaging Centre on 31 May, introducing participants to the facility and its staff and featuring talks on the rapid developments in imaging technologies that have led to notable biological and medical…

2022

embl-announcementsevents

27 April 2022 Portrait of Kristina Djinović-Carugo

Next Head of EMBL Grenoble appointed

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Professor Kristina Djinović-Carugo has been appointed as the next head of EMBL Grenoble. She will join EMBL in July from the Max Perutz Laboratories at the University of Vienna, where she is currently Head of the Department of Structural and Computational Biology and full Professor of Structural…

2022

embl-announcementslab-matters

27 April 2022 Kristina Djinović-Carugo sitting at her desk.

Meet the next Head of EMBL Grenoble

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Slovenian structural biologist Kristina Djinović-Carugo will join EMBL in July as the new Head of EMBL Grenoble. We spoke to her about her background, research interests, and plans for EMBL Grenoble.

2022

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

1 February 2022 A photograph of the Amazonian lancehead snake Bothrops atrox

Decoding the secrets of snake venom

Science & Technology EMBL Hamburg’s Grzegorz Chojnowski from the Wilmanns Group developed software called findMySequence, which identifies proteins’ amino-acid sequences based on electron cryo-microscopy and X-ray crystallography data. It’s useful for identifying unknown proteins in samples from natural sources.

2022

sciencescience-technology

28 January 2022 Collage with protein structure in the background and text in the foreground. Text says "17 organisms on the WHO’s neglected tropical diseases list and 10 organisms on its antimicrobial resistance list"

AlphaFold update – neglected tropical diseases

Latest AlphaFold database update adds 27 new organisms and almost 200,000 new protein structure predictions relevant to neglected tropical diseases and antimicrobial resistance

2022

updates-from-data-resources

18 January 2022 Science illustration composed by a photographic film highlighting three-dimensional structures of a protein complex involved in splicing.

Capturing ‘snapshots’ of a crucial step in RNA splicing

Science & Technology The Galej group at EMBL Grenoble has recently obtained high resolution snapshots of a crucial step in RNA splicing involving the U2 snRNP complex, a crucial component of the human spliceosome.

2022

sciencescience-technology

22 December 2021 Scientific illustrations of MEG3, a very large RNA involved in cell proliferation. IAB and EMBL logos are located in the center of the illustration.

EMBL-IAB collaboration on the rise

ConnectionsLab Matters The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between EMBL and the Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB) a year ago has already catalysed new grants for joint research projects related to cancer and infection biology, thereby deepening collaborative activities.

2021

connectionslab-matters

21 December 2021 A model of the doughnut-shaped nuclear pore complex. Individual molecules are marked in various colours.

Observing the secret life of molecules inside the cell

Science & Technology EMBL Hamburg’s Kosinski Group, the Beck Laboratory at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, and colleagues at EMBL Heidelberg recorded the nuclear pore complex contracting in living cells. They visualised the movement with an unprecedented level of detail with help of new software called…

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 December 2021 A detailed structure map shows two proteins interacting in the foreground, each shown in a different colour. The background shows small green dots marking bacteria

Solving molecular puzzles to find the perfect fit

Science & Technology Using cryo-EM and structural biology techniques, EMBL researchers have shown how two proteins of Legionella pneumophila interact. This finding sheds light on a mechanism critical to the infection process and could lead to the development of new drugs to treat pneumonia.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 December 2021 Colourful interwoven coils are displayed against a grid of small black and white photographic images.

A gallery of human RNA polymerases

Science & Technology New structural biology research provides fundamental information critical to understanding enzyme mutations connected to rare diseases and cancers.

2021

sciencescience-technology

7 December 2021 A cartoon image showing a person's arm and a needle with a vaccine being injected into it. The text on the left reads: "EMBL research: How structural biologists at EMBL Hamburg help to develop and improve RNA vaccines"

How structural biology helps to make RNA vaccines

Science & Technology RNA vaccines, such as the ones for COVID-19, represent a new approach in vaccine technology. Cy Jeffries, faculty staff scientist at EMBL Hamburg, explains the clever technology behind RNA vaccines, and how structural biology contributes to its development. EMBL Hamburg collaborated on several…

2021

sciencescience-technology

29 November 2021 Male scientist in front of blurred woodland background

Welcome: Niccolò Banterle

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Using gene editing and three types of microscopy, one of EMBL’s newest group leaders is deciphering the functions of one of the smallest molecules involved in cell division, motility, and signalling, known as a centriole.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

8 November 2021 A scientist is carefully handling capilars at the P12 beamline at EMBL Hamburg.

EMBL Hamburg trains future generations of life scientists in using SAXS

Lab MattersScience & Technology Each year, EMBL Hamburg’s Svergun Group offers practical EMBO courses and lecture courses on biological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The courses provide young scientists an opportunity to gain hands-on experience by measuring their own samples, and by exploring different aspects of SAXS…

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

5 November 2021 A headshot photo of Ken Holmes from July 2021

Ken Holmes

People & Perspectives Ken Holmes, outstanding pioneer of structural biology and founder of EMBL´s Hamburg site, died on 2 November 2021 at the age of 87.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

15 October 2021 In the middle, there are two molecules of pUL21. One is blurred, to represent the molecule’s flexibility. In the background are two neuronal scenes. The one on the left is healthy and has a smooth surface. The one on the right is infected, which is represented by several green viral particles.

How herpes seizes proteins’ means of production

Science & Technology The Graham and Crump groups at the University of Cambridge and the Svergun Group at EMBL Hamburg have discovered a mechanism by which the herpes simplex virus takes control of the molecular machinery of human cells. Their work reveals how a dedicated viral protein hijacks key host proteins, forcing…

2021

sciencescience-technology

10 August 2021 Scientist working on an instrument of the MASSIF-1 beamline

MASSIF-1 beamline in Grenoble supports COVID-19 drug discovery

Lab MattersScience & Technology MASSIF-1, run jointly by EMBL Grenoble and the ESRF, is a beamline for macromolecular crystallography. It is used by the research community to study the 3D structure of proteins, which is important for drug development.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

13 July 2021 From right to left, Ilaria Piazza and Ken Holmes’ portraits are side by side in circles on a greenish background

EMBL Alumni Awards 2021

People & Perspectives EMBL alumni Ilaria Piazza and Ken Holmes have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, and will receive their awards as part of the celebrations for EMBL World Alumni Day.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

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

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

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 July 2021 Melissa Graewert stands in front of steely machine

From antibodies to nanoplastics

Science & Technology EMBL’s Melissa Graewert and colleagues are taking a structural biologist’s approach to better understanding nanoplastic particles.

2021

sciencescience-technology

21 May 2021 Image of a mosquito on a clear surface

EMBL scientists support malaria research

Science & Technology EMBL scientists support research on malaria by providing freely available data resources and using innovative experimental approaches. Our Course and Conference Office facilitates the exchange of knowledge in the field by hosting the annual BioMalPar conference.

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 April 2021 Black-and-white sphere with coronavirus spike protein structures and a two-layered ring of virus membrane superimposed.

Variations on a spike

Science & Technology What does coronavirus’s spike protein look like in 3D? EMBL scientists and colleagues used cryo-electron tomography and molecular dynamics simulations to find out.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

13 April 2021 Picture showing MD3, the micro-diffractometer developed by the Instrumentation team, installed at one of the EMBL Hamburg's beamline. Credits: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBL

Structural biology at EMBL: driving technology development

Lab MattersScience & Technology Florent Cipriani, who recently retired as Head of the Instrumentation Team after a long career at EMBL Grenoble, is one of the pioneers of instrumentation development in this field.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

6 April 2021 A model of Glycine Transporter 1, which is located in the cell membrane. In its lower-middle part, it is bound by its inhibitor, which is a much smaller molecule. At its top, Glycine Transporter 1 is bound by a synthetic mini-antibody, called a sybody.

New perspectives for treating psychiatric disorders

Science & Technology Scientists have determined the structure of Glycine Transporter 1. The finding could open new avenues for developing therapeutics for psychiatric disorders

2021

sciencescience-technology

30 March 2021 A close-up photo of a shiny droplet of liquid that has been placed into one of the wells of a crystallisation plate.

Droplet beauty

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Hamburg use droplets of protein solution to grow protein crystals. By exposing the crystals to X-rays, they are able to determine the protein’s molecular structure.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

9 March 2021 This photo shows the European Photon and Neutron (EPN) science campus on the peninsula at the confluence of the Isère and Drac rivers, where EMBL Grenoble is located.

Touch of springtime in Grenoble

Lab Matters This photo shows the European Photon and Neutron (EPN) science campus where EMBL Grenoble is located. A delightful spring breeze in the air melts the last remaining patches of snow in the mountains.

2021

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

9 February 2021 Crystal cubes seen through a microscope

Purity, beauty, and perfection

Science & Technology The regular structures of crystals are a source of inspiration and fascination to us humans. While the crystals in this picture were not grown in nature, but instead by Petra Drncova from EMBL Grenoble, they share the same attributes as those found in nature.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

5 February 2021 Artistic representation of the structure of the three proteins forming Integrator’s catalytic core.

At the core of the Integrator complex

Science & Technology A new paper from the Galej group at EMBL Grenoble describes the structure of key parts of the Integrator complex, involved in gene expression.

2021

sciencescience-technology

14 January 2021 An electron microscopy photo shows two bacterial cells surrounded by several white fibrils of the amphibian peptide.

Toadlet peptide transforms into a deadly weapon against bacteria

Science & Technology Researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and EMBL Hamburg, in collaboration with scientists in Israel and Spain, have discovered remarkable molecular properties of an antimicrobial peptide from the skin of the Australian toadlet. The discovery could inspire the development of…

2021

sciencescience-technology

12 January 2021 A metallic tool.

Homage to a vital tool

Science & Technology Structural biologists want to study proteins at the atomic level. The device shown in this Picture of the Week is essential for this.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

15 December 2020 Snowy mountains behind functional buildings. The Moon is up in the sky.

First powder over EMBL Grenoble

Lab Matters The first snowflakes have fallen on the Vercors Mountains, right behind the EMBL Grenoble building, and an almost full moon is showing up during a sunny morning.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

7 December 2020 Female scientist stands in front of electron microscope that is taller than she is

Seeing deeper inside cells

Science & Technology While cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) was first envisioned in 1968, the advances the Mahamid group are bringing to this 3D method for studying molecules directly inside cells are new, and are likely to greatly expand its use.

2020

sciencescience-technology

4 December 2020 Haemoglobin protein structure shown over a matrix symbolising artificial intelligence

Solving the protein structure puzzle

Science & Technology How artificial intelligence can help us solve the mysteries of the protein universe

2020

sciencescience-technology

1 December 2020 The image shows the beamline P12 at EMBL Hamburg. In the centre, several cylindrical elements are connected into a pipe-like structure. In the front, it is connected to a white box-shaped device, and several smaller devices and cables visible around. There is also a grid visible around the beamline.

EMBL facilities support development of RNA vaccines

Science & Technology Biotechnology company BioNTech and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz conduct collaborative research with EMBL scientists at the beamline P12 in Hamburg

2020

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

Science & Technology 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…

2020

sciencescience-technology

16 October 2020 Meytal Landau is standing next to a lab bench. On the bench, laboratory equipment is visible, such as pipettes, flasks, bottles with reagents, a calculator, and more.

Welcome: Meytal Landau

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives New associate group leader at EMBL Hamburg investigates the structure of functional amyloids in bacteria and in human disease

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

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

Science & Technology 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.

2020

sciencescience-technology

3 September 2020 Left: Slice of a cell in grey. Right: Two 3D reconstructions of parts of the slice, showing the internal structure.

Nuclear pores in their natural context

Science & Technology Scientists from the Beck group have studied the 3D structure of nuclear pores in budding yeast. They show how the architecture of the nuclear pore complex differs inside cells compared to its form observed in vitro studies.

2020

sciencescience-technology

31 July 2020 This visual representation shows the newly identified architecture (left) of the coupled molecular machines responsible for transcription (green; DNA in magenta) and translation (blue and yellow), accompanied by the protein interaction network from mass spectrometry (centre) and the cryo-electron tomography data (right) from Mycoplasma pneumoniae that was used to model the structure. Credit: Liang Xue and Julia Mahamid/EMBL

Visualising the cell’s molecular machinery in action

Science & Technology A new approach that allows researchers to see molecular machinery at work inside cells has offered a deeper understanding of how bacteria produce proteins and a unique glimpse into how they respond to antibiotics.

2020

sciencescience-technology

29 July 2020 Screenshot from the online SAXS course. Clement Blanchet, a senior scientist in the Svergun group at EMBL Hamburg, is presenting the P12 SAXS beamline at Petra III to the participants.

EMBL releases online course on solution scattering from biological macromolecules

EMBL Announcements The Svergun group at EMBL Hamburg has released the course ‘Solution Scattering from Biological Macromolecules’ in an online format for the first time. The course explores different aspects of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for studying the structure of macromolecules.

2020

embl-announcementsevents

17 June 2020 Crystal selection for X-ray diffraction experiments.

Investigating the structure and mechanisms of coronavirus biomolecules

Science & Technology While global research on coronaviruses has shed light on the function of many SARS-CoV-2 proteins, the role of some crucial components remains unknown. Researchers at EMBL Grenoble will use a range of structural biology methods to try to solve some of the puzzles of the molecular mechanics of…

2020

sciencescience-technology

9 June 2020 This image shows the structure of a bacterial group II intron

Genetic cut and paste at atomic resolution

Science & Technology Researchers in the Marcia group at EMBL Grenoble and the De Vivo lab at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa have obtained some of the most detailed ever snapshots of the splicing process in systems known as group II self-splicing introns. The new insights will help scientists to develop…

2020

sciencescience-technology

27 May 2020 Automated sample changer and diffractometer at the ID30B X-ray crystallography beamline at ESRF Grenoble.

Facilitating COVID-19 structural biology research

Connections EMBL and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) restart the activities of the Joint Structural Biology Group in Grenoble to support coronavirus-related projects. A new initiative will allow users to be granted access to the High-Throughput Crystallisation (HTX) lab at EMBL and to a…

2020

connectionsscience

11 May 2020

EMBL SPC facility supports COVID-19 projects

Science & Technology The Sample Preparation and Characterisation Facility (SPC) at EMBL Hamburg reopens to support scientists working on Covid-19 research. The SPC Facility is one of the best equipped facilities in Europe is therefore in high demand from external users. Re-opening the facility also allows experts at…

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 May 2020 Liquid handling robot transfering protein crystalisation solutions

Responding to health threats posed by coronaviruses

Science & Technology By re-opening the High-Throughput Crystallisation (HTX) lab at EMBL Grenoble, EMBL is supporting structural biology projects to respond to the health threats posed by coronaviruses.

2020

sciencescience-technology

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

Exploring synthetic antibodies to stop coronavirus

Science & Technology 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.

2020

sciencescience-technology

9 April 2020 3D reconstruction of parental chromosomes in the mouse embryo

How chromosome structure influences development

Science & Technology EMBL researchers in the Heard group at EMBL Heidelberg explore the interaction between DNA organisation and gene expression in the early embryo

2020

sciencescience-technology

19 December 2019 Before a biological sample reaches the beamline, a lot of work is put into its preparation. Scientists can use the wide range of services and resources at EMBL to prepare their biological samples for structural studies at the X-ray beamlines in Grenoble and Hamburg. Photo: Marietta Schupp/EMBL

Empowering European structural biology

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EU funding for iNEXT-Discovery consortium unlocks key technologies for structural biology

2019

embl-announcementslab-matters

14 November 2019

New perspectives on nuclear pores

Science & Technology EMBL researchers have published two new studies involving the nuclear pore complex

2019

sciencescience-technology

26 September 2019 The Old Port of Marseille.

EMBL and Tara: Marseille

EMBL Announcements From 27–30 September, Tara will be docked in the port of Marseille, France’s second largest city.

2019

embl-announcementsevents

11 July 2019 Structure of the Elongator complex

A tRNA modifier at work

Science & Technology Using cryo-EM, scientists have determined the structure of a large protein complex called Elongator.

2019

sciencescience-technology

17 June 2019 A photo of the Hamburg harbour at dusk

EMBL and Tara: Hamburg

EMBL Announcements EMBL Hamburg and Tara raise awareness of the risks of microplastic pollution and global infection

2019

embl-announcementsevents

8 March 2019 Sagar Bhogaraju portrait photo

Welcome: Sagar Bhogaraju

Science & Technology New group leader at EMBL Grenoble is investigating the cellular role of melanoma antigens

2019

sciencescience-technology

21 February 2019 Tanmay Bharat and Patrick Baeuerle, winners of the EMBL's 2019 alumni awards

2019 alumni awards

People & Perspectives Scientists honoured for contributions in cancer immunotherapy and structural biology

2019

alumnipeople-perspectives

22 October 2018 An 88% complete model of human hemoglobin (PDB id 5ni1) built de novo by ARP/wARP into a 3.2 Å cryo-EM map. IMAGE: Victor Lamzin/EMBL

ARP/wARP 8.0 released

Lab MattersScience & Technology Researchers at EMBL Hamburg have released the next generation of their ARP/wARP software

2018

lab-mattersscience-technology

19 October 2018 A group of young students in front of the EMBL site in Hamburg.

Guiding young scientists

Connections 17 young scientists experienced hands-on training at EMBL Hamburg.

2018

connectionsevents

29 August 2018 During cell division, cohesin directly engages DNA (purple) and holds the replicated chromosome together. IMAGE: Nasser Rusan/National Institutes of Health

Cohesin: a glue for DNA

Science & Technology EMBL scientists discover how a component of the cohesin ring binds DNA

2018

sciencescience-technology

2 August 2018 Humans of EMBL: Outreach

Humans of EMBL: Outreach

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Discover how EMBLers across all sites share their passion for science

2018

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

26 July 2018 Acrylic painting of couple made of proteins

Art meets structural biology

Lab Matters The Protein Data Bank in Europe celebrates its schools art project with its largest exhibition yet

2018

lab-mattersscience

21 March 2018 Maria Garcia Alai at the Sample Preparation and Characterisation Facility at EMBL Hamburg. PHOTO: EMBL/Joanna Pieprzyk

Welcome: Maria Garcia Alai

People & Perspectives The new head of facility at EMBL Hamburg will help users solve protein puzzles

2018

people-perspectivesscience

8 March 2018 Netrin-1 bound to Draxin

Axon guidance and bundling are linked

Science & Technology EMBL scientists discover how two guidance cues work together when neurons project axons across the midline

2018

sciencescience-technology

15 February 2018 Architecture dependent turnover of the nuclear pore subunits. Top row shows the nuclear pore subunits seen from top, bottom row shows subunits of the nuclear pore cut in half.

Life and death of proteins

Science & Technology EMBL scientists create a turnover catalogue of almost 10.000 proteins from primary cells

2018

sciencescience-technology

29 January 2018 General view of the ID23-2 sample environment showing the MD3-Up diffractometer and FlexHCD sample changer. PHOTO: EMBL/J. Sinoir

Beamline ID23-2 tools up for ESRF upgrade

Lab MattersScience & Technology EMBL instrumentation teams adapting tech to run biological experiments on the synchrotron after its upgrade

2018

lab-mattersscience-technology

4 January 2018 Schematic reconstruction of the Robo1 structure. IMAGE: Andrew McCarthy / Structure

One way crossing across the midline

Science & Technology EMBL researchers solve a decades-long debate on a key process for brain and embryo-development

2018

sciencescience-technology

20 December 2017 In this representation of influenza polymerase, a molecule (white) that strongly inhibits the enzyme’s activity is shown bound to the region of the enzyme (red) that usually binds the cap section of mRNA. IMAGE: EMBL/Cusack Group

Futures: Unravelling influenza

Science & Technology ERC grantee Stephen Cusack shares his vision for the next ten years

2017

sciencescience-technology

4 December 2017 A photo of Eva Kowalinski

Welcome: Eva Kowalinski

People & Perspectives New group leader based in Grenoble aims to unveil the mechanisms of RNA editing

2017

people-perspectivesscience

24 November 2017 Cryo-electron tomograms of intact cells reveal molecular landscapes.

Welcome: Julia Mahamid

People & Perspectives The Mahamid group studies meso-scale molecular assemblies in intact cells and model organisms at molecular resolution

2017

people-perspectivesscience

16 November 2017 Photo of Jacques Dubochet giving a talk

A curious case of serendipity

People & Perspectives Jacques Dubochet, Nobel laureate and former EMBL group leader, reflects on a key aha moment

2017

alumnipeople-perspectives

13 November 2017

Research highlights

Science & Technology A summary of recent research highlights from EMBL

2017

sciencescience-technology

3 October 2017 The structure of the nuclear pore complex obtained by integrative modelling

Welcome: Jan Kosinski

People & Perspectives EMBL’s new group leader based in Hamburg aims to create models of infection cycles

2017

people-perspectivesscience

3 May 2017

Futures: Phosphatases

Science & Technology ERC grantee Maja Köhn shares her vision for the next ten years

2017

sciencescience-technology

24 March 2017

Futures: The dark proteome

Science & Technology ERC grantee Edward Lemke shares his vision for the next ten years

2017

sciencescience-technology

28 February 2017

SESAME: a light in the desert

People & Perspectives EMBL alumna Zehra Sayers key driver of the Middle East’s first synchrotron project

2017

alumnipeople-perspectives

25 January 2017 Wojciech Galej, new group leader at EMBL

Welcome: Wojciech Galej

People & Perspectives New group leader Wojciech Galej investigates RNA-protein complexes involved in gene expression

2017

people-perspectivesscience

21 December 2016

How flu steals your RNA

Science & Technology Understanding how the flu virus steals host RNA offers hope of new drugs

2016

sciencescience-technology

20 December 2016 A 3D print-out of beta-galactosidase

Happy anniversary, PDBe!

Lab MattersScience & Technology Ewan Birney's nine "Structures of Christmas" celebrate 20 years of PDBe

2016

lab-mattersscience-technology

8 December 2016

10th PEPC course in Hamburg

Connections The PEPC course celebrated its 10th anniversary in Hamburg from the 12 – 20 September this year

2016

connectionsevents

2 December 2016

Catching the chaperone in the act

Science & Technology How Christian Löw’s failed experiment led to an unexpected scientific journey

2016

sciencescience-technology

17 November 2016

New insights into RNA Polymerase I

Science & Technology Cryo EM reconstruction of RNA Polymerase I reveals details of how molecule binds and transcribes DNA

2016

sciencescience-technology

11 November 2016

Big data, cool servers

Lab Matters Upgraded server room is ready to take the heat at EMBL Grenoble

2016

lab-matters

13 September 2016

New drug candidate unleashed for TB

Science & Technology EMBL researchers help to design a lead compound active against four different pathogens

2016

sciencescience-technology

13 September 2016

Opinion: 2006, a year of champagne

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Stephen Cusack looks back on the early days of his collaboration with Anacor developing anti-infectives

2016

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

30 August 2016 Data by Natalia Wesolowska has been visualised in 3D stereoscopic view, as an anaglyph and a 3D lenticular poster by Stefan Günther & Gustavo de Medeiros at EMBL

See data in a new light

Science & Technology 3D printing, gaming, virtual reality and lenticular posters bring new perspectives to research

2016

sciencescience-technology

30 August 2016

Atomic proportions

Connections EMBL and ESRF scientists and mechanics work together on upgrade for one of Europe’s big X-ray sources

2016

connectionsscience

30 August 2016 IMAGE: EMBL/Spencer Phillips

Form follows function

Science & Technology 'The PDB plays a crucial role in structural biology research and development'

2016

sciencescience-technology

24 June 2016

Bork lab peers gather

Lab Matters 27 former Bork lab members joined Peer for a full-day get-together this summer

2016

alumnilab-matters

16 June 2016 Emiko Uchikawa in her lab at EMBL in Grenoble. IMAGE: Isabelle Kling/EMBL

Found in translation

Science & Technology Studying at EMBL in Grenoble helps Japanese postdoc see her native country through different eyes

2016

sciencescience-technology

14 June 2016

How cells bag their rubbish

Science & Technology How cells eliminate protein deposits that can lead to neurodegenerative disorders

2016

sciencescience-technology

10 May 2016 A small loop (green) of the atomic structure of DAPK shown to be crucial for dimer formation and binding with its signaling partner Calmodulin. IMAGE: Petra Riedinger/EMBL

Enzyme with a dual-purpose loop

Science & Technology Unexpected results: structure of DAPK enzyme reveals dual-purpose loop

2016

sciencescience-technology

21 April 2016 Florent Cipriani (right) developed CrystalDirect™ together with Josan Marquez (left) PHOTO: EMBL

The man behind the machine

Science & Technology Florent Cipriani talks about his passion for developing beamline instrumentation

2016

sciencescience-technology

21 April 2016 Jozef Ševcik at the X13 beamline at the DORIS ring in Hamburg. PHOTO: Rostislav Skrabana

Slovakian synergies

People & Perspectives Meet a driving force behind collaborations with the Slovak Republic, alumnus Jozef Ševčik

2016

alumnipeople-perspectives

21 April 2016 CrystalDirect robot control software: signal from a video camera monitoring the laser working area within a microplate (centre), used to locate the aperture (green trace) and cutting shape (red line), and to select final position of pin tip relative to the crystal (red oval). IMAGE: Zander, U, et al.

Crystals in the beamlight

Science & Technology CrystalDirect, developed at EMBL, automates crystal preparation for X-ray analysis

2016

sciencescience-technology

31 March 2016 The insights should improve therapies where T-cells (green and red) are modified to attack cancer cells (blue, center). IMAGE: NICHD/J. Lippincott-Schwartz

Designing gene therapy

Science & Technology Information on structure of molecule used for genome engineering yields increased efficiency

2016

sciencescience-technology

7 March 2016 During cell division, DNA (purple) must be correctly grouped and divided between daughter cells. IMAGE: Nasser Rusan, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

A cohesive structure

Science & Technology Structural insights into how cohesin keeps DNA together during the cell cycle

2016

sciencescience-technology

11 February 2016 The 3D structure shows how two transcription factors influence one another’s binding to a specific stretch of DNA – an interaction that is crucial for a heart to develop healthily. IMAGE: EMBL/C.Müller

True Love

Science & Technology How transcription factors interact to create a heart

2016

sciencescience-technology

18 January 2016 A peroxisome containing protein crystals is hit by a free-electron laser. IMAGE: EMBL/CFEL, Thomas Seine

The cellular crystal factory

Science & Technology Hamburg collaborators analyse protein crystals inside the cells that made them.

2016

sciencescience-technology

15 January 2016 Full length CTP1L protein (green) in complex with truncated C-terminal domain (violet). IMAGE: Rob Meijers

One gene, two proteins, one complex

Science & Technology Further insights into how viral enzymes degrade the cell walls of Clostridia bacteria.

2016

sciencescience-technology

11 December 2015 Periodic Table of Protein Complexes, Ahnert et al., Science 2015

Periodic table of protein complexes

Science & Technology Making it easier to visualise, understand and predict how proteins combine to drive biological processes.

2015

sciencescience-technology

24 November 2015

Awards & Honours

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL scientists regularly receive prestigious awards – meet the latest honourees.

2015

embl-announcementslab-matters

23 November 2015 More than 600 'diplomas' were awarded to budding crystallographers for successfully fishing crystals! PHOTO: DESY 2015

High-throughput event

Lab Matters Energy, enthusiasm and endurance on tap as thousands attend 12-hour Hamburg Night of Science.

2015

eventslab-matters

26 October 2015

A whole new ball game

Lab Matters Hamburg researchers have a ball creating game to explain transporter protein mechanism.

2015

lab-matters

23 September 2015

Checkpoint architecture

Science & Technology A nuclear pore riddle: how can you use the same number of pieces to form two rings that fit inside each other?

2015

sciencescience-technology

22 September 2015

MASSIFly efficient

Science & Technology MASSIF-1 processes its 10,000th crystal, less than one year after the beamline became operational.

2015

sciencescience-technology

14 September 2015 Erica Valentini. PHOTO: EMBL/Rosemary Wilson

From side-project to valuable resource

Lab MattersScience & Technology Introducing the Small Angle Scattering Biological Data Bank, developed at EMBL Hamburg.

2015

lab-mattersscience-technology

7 September 2015 Janosch Hennig. PHOTO: EMBL Photolab/Marietta Schupp

Welcome: Janosch Hennig

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives “A structure alone is not so interesting, you need the biology too,” says new NMR-focused group leader

2015

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

24 August 2015

Molecular momentum

People & Perspectives Andrew Miller, first head of EMBL Grenoble, reflects on four decades at the Outstation.

2015

alumnipeople-perspectives

24 August 2015

Awards & Honours

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL scientists regularly receive prestigious awards – meet the latest honourees.

2015

embl-announcementslab-matters

24 August 2015

EMBL Grenoble: Alumni stories

People & Perspectives Alumni Reuben Leberman, Jeremy Smith, Elena Seiradake, and Winfried Weissenhorn share their stories.

2015

alumnipeople-perspectives

6 August 2015

Welcome: Theodore Alexandrov

People & Perspectives A mathematician who got ‘sucked in’ to biological problems, meet new team leader Theodore Alexandrov.

2015

people-perspectivesscience

16 July 2015

Oskar’s structure revealed

Science & Technology 3D structure of Oskar protein gives first molecular insight into how it functions.

2015

sciencescience-technology

18 June 2015

From mountains to molecules

Staff, alumni, partners and more meet at EMBL Grenoble to celebrate Outstation's 40th anniversary.

2015

events

21 May 2015

It runs in the family

Detailed structural study shows distantly related viruses share a common machinery for replication.

2015

science

7 May 2015

Taking out the trash

Unveiling the shape of... the 'molecular bin man' – cryoEM helps reveals p62 polymer in 3D.

2015

science

5 May 2015 PDBe launches a new, responsive, interactive website for structural biology

PDBe launches new website

Lab Matters In their quest to make structural biology more accessible, PDBe launches a new website.

2015

lab-matters

6 April 2015

Bypassing errors

Coin toss inspires CorMap: a new statistical test that sidesteps need for error estimation.

2015

science

20 February 2015 Scanning electron micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB.

Attack from all sides

Hamburg-led tuberculosis study demonstrates the power of collaboration.

2015

science

27 January 2015 Building blocks TAF8 (blue), TAF10 (green) and TAF2 (not shown) form a module in the cytoplasm before entering the nucleus to form TFIID. IMAGE: EMBL/I.BERGER

Come together

First experimental proof that a key cellular machine forms by uniting pre-assembled modules.

2015

science

26 January 2015

Light years ahead

As EMBL Hamburg celebrates 40 years, we explore the past, present and future of crystallography.

2015

science

26 January 2015

It all started with muscle…

Lab Matters Ken Holmes, one of the visionaries behind EMBL and EMBL Hamburg, looks back to where it all began.

2015

alumnilab-matters

9 January 2015

Welcome: Marco Marcia

New group leader Marco Marcia aims to broaden horizons while mapping molecules.

2015

science

11 December 2014

Lighting the way

EMBL Hamburg celebrates four decades of vision, pioneering research and beamline services.

2014

events

11 December 2014

Dinner with a Nobel Laureate

Lab Matters The day EMBL Hamburg predocs and postdocs invited Nobel Prize Winner Ada Yonath to dinner.

2014

lab-matters

5 December 2014

Four decades at EMBL

Lab Matters Employee number 47 retires, leaving behind a legacy that intricately linked her life with EMBL.

2014

alumnilab-matters

28 November 2014

MASSIF step forward

Science & Technology In two months, 2.3 million diffraction images collected on new, fully automated ESRF/EMBL beamline.

2014

sciencescience-technology

19 November 2014

20 years in the making

Science & Technology First complete picture of flu virus polymerase. A story of two decades of blood, sweat and sneezes.

2014

sciencescience-technology

18 November 2014 Kyung-Min Noh. PHOTO: EMBL/M.SCHUPP

Welcome: Kyung-Min Noh

The important thing is forming good biological questions, says new group leader in Genome Biology.

2014

science

18 November 2014

On a SAXS quest

Course attendees go hunting (protein) aliens in a quest for optimal SAXS data.

2014

events

3 November 2014 An unprecedentedly detailed look at immature HIV revealed a surprise. IMAGE: EMBL/F.SCHUR

Same pieces, different picture

Science & Technology Unprecedented detail on HIV structure continues virus’ string of surprises.

2014

sciencescience-technology

3 November 2014

PEPC recipe for success

How to make good quality samples for good quality structural biology experiments.

2014

events

20 October 2014

Breaking boundaries

Science & Technology How Nobel-winning work by alumnus Stefan Hell shapes and inspires current EMBL scientists' research.

2014

sciencescience-technology

17 October 2014 Sarah Teichmann. PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Awards & Honours

Lab Matters EMBL scientists regularly receive prestigious awards - meet the latest honourees

2014

lab-matters

20 August 2014

Binding bracelet

Science & Technology Vasa protein preserves pieces of 'enemy' DNA to help protect the genes of future generations.

2014

sciencescience-technology

8 August 2014

International connections

Science & Technology How a single molecule can attract and repel growing brain connections

2014

sciencescience-technology

24 July 2014 C. diff bacterium

Fighting bacteria – with viruses

Science & Technology Molecular switch enables viruses to destroy C.diff bacteria – potential alternative to antibiotics

2014

sciencescience-technology

1 July 2014 Matthias Wilmanns receives his membership certificate

Awards & Honours

Lab Matters EMBL scientists regularly receive prestigious awards - meet the latest honourees

2014

lab-matters

1 July 2014

The future’s bright

Science & Technology Surprising protein from a flu-like virus is 10 000th ESRF structure

2014

sciencescience-technology

1 July 2014

The shape of things to come

Science & Technology New ways of handling and distributing data at PDBe to tackle ever larger and more complex proteins

2014

sciencescience-technology

1 July 2014 Illustration: Aad Goudappel, Rotterdam

Five for the future

Lab Matters Scientists from EMBL's five sites reflect on the opportunities and challenges that might lie ahead

2014

lab-matters

25 June 2014

Chain reactions

Science & Technology Scientists determine the structure of auxin response factors: daisy-chains that regulate gene expression

2014

sciencescience-technology

18 May 2014

First, catch your DNA

Science & Technology DNA-coralling protein complex in an unexpected bind

2014

sciencescience-technology

13 October 2013

Choreographed origami

Science & Technology An important step in building ribosomes – the cell’s protein factories – is like a strictly choreographed dance, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have discovered. To build these factories, other ‘machines’ inside the cell have to…

2013

sciencescience-technology

6 January 2013

Protein production: going viral

Science & Technology A research team of scientists from EMBL Grenoble and the IGBMC in Strasbourg, France, have, for the first time, described in molecular detail the architecture of the central scaffold of TFIID: the human protein complex essential for transcription from DNA to mRNA. The study, published today…

2013

sciencescience-technology

2 August 2012 Different inhibitors (yellow, grey) fill the cave-like active site of the cap-snatching protein (the endonuclease, in green) differently, even though they all bind to the active site’s two metal ions (magenta).

Catching the cap-snatcher

Science & Technology Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France, have determined the detailed 3-dimensional structure of part of the flu virus’ RNA polymerase, an enzyme that is crucial for influenza virus replication. This important finding is published today in PLoS…

2012

sciencescience-technology

23 February 2012

New distributed research infrastructure for structural biology

Science & Technology Breakthroughs in biomedical science are a step closer today, with the launch of a new distributed research infrastructure for the science of structural biology: Instruct. The launch of Instruct will give academic and commercial scientists across Europe access to a full portfolio of integrated…

2012

sciencescience-technology

21 July 2011 Model of the inner ring (green) of the nuclear pore, showing its components.

A hot species for cool structures

Science & Technology A fungus that lives at extremely high temperatures could help understand structures within our own cells. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and Heidelberg University, both in Heidelberg, Germany, were the first to sequence and analyse the genome of a heat-loving fungus,…

2011

sciencescience-technology

12 December 2010 This cryo-electron microscopy image shows the 3D structure of the ribosome (yellow/blue) bound to the signal recognition particle (SRP) and the SRP receptor (both in red). Below it is an atomic model of SRP (green-yellow/orange) and its receptor (pink). Image credits: EMBL/Schaffitzel.

How cells export and embed proteins in the membrane

Science & Technology Like an overprotective parent on the first day of school, a targeting factor sometimes needs a little push to let go of its cargo. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France, have visualised one such hand-over. They were the first to determine the structure…

2010

sciencescience-technology

26 January 2010 This image shows the three-dimensional structure of Death-Associated Protein Kinase (green and yellow) when bound to calmodulin (violet and blue). It was obtained by X-ray crystallography. Image credit: Mathias Wilmanns / EMBL

How to shoot the messenger

Science & Technology Cells rely on a range of signalling systems to communicate with each other and to control their own internal workings. Scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Hamburg, Germany, have now found a way to hack into a vital communications system, raising the possibility of…

2010

sciencescience-technology

30 September 2009 In the centre, a structural model determined by X-ray crystallography shows how the two tags (attached to a short section of the histone protein – all in cyan) fit neatly into the Brdt pocket (purple). In the background image, hypercompaction by Brdt causes relatively diffuse chromatin (stained blue inside the nuclei of two cells on the top left) to compact and clump together (two on the bottom right).

Putting the squeeze on sperm DNA

Science & Technology In the quest for speed, olympic swimmers shave themselves or squeeze into high-tech super-suits. In the body, sperm are the only cells that swim and, as speed is crucial to fertility, have developed their own ways to become exceptionally streamlined. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology…

2009

sciencescience-technology

11 July 2006

Mapping the protein world

Lab MattersScience & Technology In the early days of X-ray crystallography obtaining a three-dimensional model of a protein required wire models, screws, bolts and years of tedious calculations by hand. Today macromolecular models are built by computers – thanks to sophisticated software and in particular a package called…

2006

lab-mattersscience-technology

11 January 2006

The giant protein titin helps build muscles

Science & Technology Imagine grabbing two snakes by the tail so that they can’t wriggle off in opposite directions. Scientists at the Hamburg Outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and collaborators from King’s College in London have now discovered that something similar happens to a…

2006

sciencescience-technology

10 January 2006

A major European Centre for Structural Biology inaugurated in Grenoble

Lab Matters On Friday, 13 January 2006, the new Carl-Ivar Brändén Building (CIBB) will be inaugurated on the Polygone Scientifique Campus in Grenoble, France. The CIBB will be operated as a collaboration between major international and national partners based in Grenoble and is a further step in the…

2006

lab-matters

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