News 2020

Dec 28, 2020 Nanochemistry: Layers step out of line

If the stacking structure of the “miracle material” COF is even slightly shifted, its properties change dramatically. This happens more often than assumed, as LMU-based chemists from the e-conversion cluster were able to demonstrate.

Dec 21, 2020 Nanotechnology Nanoparticles as weapons against cancer

LMU researchers have developed a novel type of nanoparticle that efficiently and selectively kills cancer cells, thus opening up new therapeutic options for the treatment of tumors.

Dec 07, 2020 PHOENIX awards the "Oscar of Pharmacy"

The pharmaceutical wholesaler PHOENIX honors innovative and outstanding work in pharmaceutical research with the PHOENIX Pharmaceutical Science Award. The prize was awarded for the 23rd time this year - endowed with a total of 40,000 euros.

Dec 03, 2020 Roemer Prize 2020 awarded

For the 15th time, the Roemer Prize for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and chemistry was awarded this year.

Dec 01, 2020 Julian Stingele selected as EMBO Young Investigator

Julian Stingele, Professor for Cellular Biochemistry at the LMU Gene Center since 2017, has been selected as EMBO Young Investigator.

Nov 27, 2020 Immunology: How epithelial cells ward off viruses

A team led by LMU‘s Veit Hornung has shown that a protein found in skin cells recognizes a specific nucleic acid intermediate that is formed during virus replication. This recognition process subsequently induces a potent inflammatory response.

Nov 23, 2020 Supramolecular chemistry: Self-constructed macrocycles with low symmetry

The synthesis and self-organization of biological macromolecules is essential for life on earth. LMU chemists now report the spontaneous emergence of complex ring-shaped macromolecules with low degrees of symmetry in the laboratory.

Nov 20, 2020 Citation analysis: Faculty academics among most highly cited researchers

Sixteen LMU scholars and scientists are among the most influential authors in their specific fields, as the publication of the list of highly cited researchers 2020 shows. This ranking lists those researchers in the fields of the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Medicine whose publications are most frequently cited worldwide.

Nov 19, 2020 Ribosome assembly: The final trimming step

Ribosomes synthesize all the proteins in cells. Studies mainly done on yeast have revealed much about how ribosomes are put together, but an LMU team now reports that ribosome assembly in human cells requires factors that have no counterparts in simpler model organisms.

Nov 13, 2020 Pharmacology: An unconventional ion channel

Scientists at LMU have identified the first mechanosensitive ion channel to be found in an intracellular vesicle system. It responds to concentration changes within the vesicle, and probably controls the initiation of immune reactions.

Nov 04, 2020 Physiology How is the heartbeat regulated?

The heart can stably maintain blood flow – at rest or under stress – over a lifetime. Using a mouse model, an LMU team has now uncovered the role played by a specific class of ion channels in controlling the heart rate.

Nov 03, 2020 Photopharmacology: Light-gated control of the cytoskeleton

LMU researchers have developed photoresponsive derivatives of the anticancer drug Taxol, which allow light-based control of cytoskeleton dynamics in neurons. The agents can optically pattern cell division and may elucidate how Taxol acts.

Oct 20, 2020 Prebiotic chemistry: In the beginning, there was sugar

Organic molecules formed the basis for the evolution of life. But how could inorganic precursors have given rise to them? LMU chemist Oliver Trapp now reports a reaction pathway in which minerals catalyze the formation of sugars in the absence of water.

Oct 14, 2020 Welcome to Winter Semester 2020!

Studying in the corona crisis!

Oct 05, 2020 Energy Storage: Soak up the sunlight and swim in the dark

Microswimmers are small particles that actively move in liquids. But they need a continuous energy supply. Thanks to a light charging mechanism co-developed by e-conversion members, microswimmers can now also move in the dark. This makes them interesting for medical applications.

Sep 16, 2020 Bio-inorganic chemistry: Larger lanthanides preferred

Rare earth elements are vital for many modern technologies. Chemists at LMU have now shown that a cofactor found in a bacterial enzyme can selectively extract some of these metals from mixtures in an environmentally benign fashion.

Sep 11, 2020 Cancer Research Institute (CRI): Veit Hornung received Coley Award

Professor Veit Hornung has received the William B. Coley Award, endowed with a medal of honor and US $ 5,000, from the renowned US Cancer Research Institute (CRI) in New York.

Sep 10, 2020 Innate immune system: How cGAS is kept bottled up

In higher organisms, detection of DNA in the cytoplasm triggers an immune reaction. The enzyme that senses ‘misplaced’ DNA is also found in the nucleus, but nuclear DNA has no such effect. LMU researchers now report why that is so.

Sep 03, 2020 Awards: ERC Starting Grant for Prof. Lena Daumann

Six early-career researchers have won ERC Starting Grants in conjunction with LMU, including Prof. Lena Daumann from the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy.

Aug 31, 2020 Gene therapy: New strategy against hereditary blindness

Retinitis pigmentosa is the most common form of hereditary blindness. Munich scientists have now used a gene therapy approach to compensate for the loss of defective genes in mice by specifically activating disused genes with a similar function.

Aug 26, 2020 DNA repair: Locating and severing lethal links

Covalent cross-links between proteins and DNA are among the most hazardous types of DNA damage. LMU researchers have now characterized an enzyme that breaks such bonds, and elucidated how it specifically recognizes sites of damage.Covalent cross-links between proteins and DNA are among the most hazardous types of DNA damage. LMU researchers have now characterized an enzyme that breaks such bonds, and elucidated how it specifically recognizes sites of damage.

Jul 21, 2020 COVID-19: Viral shutdown of protein synthesis

Researchers from Munich and Ulm have determined how the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the synthesis of proteins in infected cells and shown that it effectively disarms the body’s innate immune system.

Jun 12, 2020 Chemistry: A colorful chemical chameleon

Colored smoke is increasingly employed as an element of spectacle in a broad spectrum of public events. However, the chemicals used for this purpose give rise to toxic by-products. LMU chemists have now developed a safe alternative.

May 07, 2020 SARS-CoV-2 Minister Sibler is informed about current research

Last Monday, Bavarian Minister of Science Bernd Sibler visited the gene center and the chair for organic chemistry to find out about the current status of research on the novel virus SARS-CoV-2.

May 03, 2020 Welcome to a special summer semester 2020!

Study in the corona crisis!

May 02, 2020 Important: New Informations on corona virus (SARS-CoV-2)

Lectures and internships for students are stopped!

May 01, 2020 Achromatopsia: New gene therapy tested in patients

An initial trial in patients indicates that a new genetic treatment for complete color blindness, developed by research groups based in Tübingen and Munich is safe. Preliminary evidence for its efficacy has also been obtained.

Apr 08, 2020 Cell biology: Your number’s up!

mRNAs program the synthesis of proteins in cells, and their functional lifetimes are dynamically regulated. LMU researchers have now shown why blueprints that are more difficult to decipher have shorter lifetimes than others.

Apr 07, 2020 Nanoparticles: Deadly in acid

LMU scientists have developed nanoparticles that release an overdose of iron ions in the cell depending on the pH. This could open up new therapeutic options for combating tumors, for example.

Apr 06, 2020 ERC Advanced Grants for Prof. Roland Beckmann

The European Research Council has awarded four of its coveted Advanced Grants to researchers at LMU. One price was awarded to Prof. Roland Beckmann of the Faculty of Chemistry.

Mar 27, 2020 Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Rolf Huisgen deceased

The faculty mourns the loss of Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Rolf Huisgen, who died on March 26, 2020, three months before his 100th birthday.

Mar 10, 2020 Cell biology: Maintaining mitochondrial resilience

Mitochondria cannot autonomously cope with stress and must instead call on the cell for help. Molecular geneticists at LMU have identified the long-sought signaling pathway which enables the organelles to do so.

Feb 28, 2020 Battery research: Finding the right blend

In the battery of the future, solids will replace the currently used electrolyte solutions. A team of scientists at LMU has now developed a series of new sodium ion conductors. The secret of the best material in the series lies in the exact mixing of the ingredients.

Feb 06, 2020 Award for the LMUchemlab school laboratory

The LMUchemlab school laboratory of the Department of Chemistry under direction of Prof. Stefan Schwarzer, Department of Chemistry, Didactics, was awarded the LeLa Prize 2020 by the Federal Association of School Labs. The prize is donated by the BMBF.

Jan 31, 2020 Structural biology: Special delivery

Bulky globular proteins require specialized transport systems for insertion into membranes. LMU researchers have determined the structure of such a system for the first time, and propose that it exploits the principle of the airlock.

Jan 30, 2020 Nanotechnology: Putting a nanomachine to work

A team of chemists at LMU has successfully coupled the directed motion of a light-activated molecular motor to a different chemical unit – thus taking an important step toward the realization of synthetic nanomachines.

Jan 09, 2020 Supramolecular Chemistry: Playing with Diverse Identities

Ivan Huc’s specialty might best be termed molecular mimicry. He designs and builds synthetic analogs of biomolecules that retain the essential features of their models, while exhibiting properties beyond those seen in nature.

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