Welcome to the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics!

Welcome to the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics!

We study the structure and function of proteins which regulate vital cellular processes using a wide methodological repertoire including advanced light and electron microscopy and as well as computational biology.

Our Research


Ernst Bamberg – The Functional Analysis of Electrogenic Membrane Proteins
Martin Beck – Molecular Sociology
Ulrich Ermler – Enzyme Mechanism
Ana J. García-Sáez
Gerhard Hummer – Theoretical Biophysics
Werner Kühlbrandt – Structural Biology
Eugene Kim – Structure and Dynamics of Chromosomes
Melanie McDowell – Membrane Protein Biogenesis
Hartmut Michel – Molecular Membrane Biology
Bonnie Murphy – Redox and Metalloproteins
Beata Turoňová – Image Processing
Florian Wilfling – Mechanisms of Cellular Quality Control

Overview

Scientific Facilities


Sonja Welsch – Electron Microscopy
Julian Langer – Mass Spectrometry
https://brain.mpg.de/imaging

News

Close-up of metal laboratory equipment with coiled tubes, superimposed on an image of a dense forest and a swamp with grasses and water.

Microbes Can Reduce Their Need for Nickel

Research News
Methane-producing archaea are more adaptable to nutrient-poor habitats than previously thought.
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Lea Dietrich holds the Otto Hahn Medal at the flower meadow of the Max Planck Insititute of Biophysis

Lea Dietrich Awarded Otto Hahn Medal for Junior Scientists

Awards & Honors People
Her dissertation on the structure of mitochondrial proteins has earnt her one of the Max Planck Society’s top distinctions for young researchers.
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Meet us

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Work with us

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Latest Publications

1.
Nomura, S.; San Segundo-Acosta, P.; Protasov, E.; Kaneko, M.; Kahnt, J.; Murphy, B. J.; Shima, S.: Electron flow in hydrogenotrophic methanogens under nickel limitation. Nature (2025)
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2.
Singh, M. K.; Cavellini, L.; Morcillo-Parra, M. A.; Kunz, C.; Lelek, M.; Bomme, P.; Barascu, A.; Alsayyah, C.; Teixeira, M. T.; Belgareh-Touzé, N. et al.; Mallet, A.; Dietrich, L.; Zimmer, C.; Cohen, M. M.: A constricted mitochondrial morphology formed during respiration. Nature Communications 16, 5314 (2025)
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3.
Zeinert, R.; Zhou, F.; Franco, P.; Zöller, J.; Madni, Z. K.; Lessen, H.; Aravind, L.; Langer, J. D.; Sodt, A. J.; Storz, G. et al.; Matthies, D.: P-type ATPase magnesium transporter MgtA acts as a dimer. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2025)
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4.
Buckel, W.; Ermler, U.; Vonck, J.; Fritz, G.; Steuber, J.: The RNF/NQR redox pumps: a versatile system for energy transduction in bacteria and archaea. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 109, 148 (2025)
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