Experimental Biophysics/Mechanobiology - Professor Klotzsch — Experimentelle Biophysik/Mechanobiologie (Juniorprofessur)

Experimentelle Biophysik/Mechanobiologie (Juniorprofessur)

Experimental Biophysics/Mechanobiology - Professor Klotzsch

Our Mission

Structure - not only on the molecular level – defines function. Our group aims in bridging the gap between structural and cell biology, particularly to decipher the mechanical aspects of how cells sense and react to their environment. This includes asking how cells employ forces to probe the interaction to other molecules such as receptor-ligand interactions to switch biochemical function, i.e. T-cell activation, migration or their interaction with the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we investigate how these insights can be exploited for biomedical applications.
We use state-of-the-art single molecule microscopy techniques such as super-resolution microscopy, AFM and optical tweezer to gain insights into general aspects of mechanobiology, membrane biophysics, neurobiology and immunology.

Left: Super-resolution Microscopy is applied to nuclear and cytoskeletal structure of an activated T-cell. Top: Mechanical properties of single fibronectin fibers are tested using microelectrical mechanics sensors in combination with confocal microscopy. Right: 3-color super-resolution microscopy is employed to investigate the structure of growth cones.