IMPRS on Multiscale Bio-Systems

The IMPRS on Multiscale Bio-Systems addresses the fundamental levels of biosystems as provided by macromolecules in aqueous solutions, molecular recognition between these building blocks, free energy transduction by molecular machines as well as structure formation and transport in cells and tissues. The research activities are focused on four core areas:

• Molecular recognition of carbohydrates
• Interaction of biomolecules with light,
• Directed intracellular processes
• Directed shape changes of tissues

One general objective is to understand, in a quantitative manner, how the processes on supramolecular and mesoscopic scales between a few nanometers and many micrometers arise from the structure and dynamics of the molecular building blocks. To achieve this goal, our interdisciplinary research combines bottom-up with top-down approaches, which are pursued by several groups from theoretical and experimental biophysics, from physical and colloid chemistry as well as from biochemistry and molecular biology.