Structural Biology (EMBL Hamburg) Archives

19 December 2025 Colourful squiggles set against a dark background and numbers

Computational structural biology workshop in six takeaways

An EMBO workshop explores the trends, collaborative opportunities, and progress taking place in computational structural biology.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2025

science-technology

7 July 2025 In the front, a neuron has a power switch on its surface. Two rays of light, one violet, the other one red, illuminate the switch. In the background, an iceberg floating at the sea is visible.

In the front, a neuron has a power switch on its surface. Two rays of light, one violet, the other one red, illuminate the switch. In the background, an iceberg floating at the sea is visible.

Some like it cold: cryorhodopsins

‘Cryorhodopsins’ are a group of unusual and colourful microbial molecules found exclusively in cold environments. Some of them are blue, a rare and sought-after light-absorption property. They are the first observed molecules that can act as both ‘on’ and ‘off’ switches for electrical…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2025

science-technology

11 November 2024 Portrait photo of Jan Bláha.

We are EMBL: Jan Bláha on protein crystallisation inside cells

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.

PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

2024

people-perspectives

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

“Structurally” sound

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.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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.

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

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…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2024

science-technology

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.

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

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…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2023

sciencescience-technology

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.

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

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.

LAB MATTERS PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

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.

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

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…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2023

sciencescience-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.

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

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…

LAB MATTERS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2022

lab-mattersscience-technology

18 May 2022 The visiting group from the Business Academy Aarhus during lunch at the EMBL Hamburg’s terrace

EMBL Hamburg is helping train lab techs of the future

Students from the Business Academy Aarhus visit EMBL Hamburg annually. Many of them return later as trainees to gain experience as lab technicians. EMBL Hamburg offers great opportunities to learn diverse techniques and work with various equipment. This experience helps them in their future jobs in…

LAB MATTERS

2022

lab-matters

21 May 2021 Image of a mosquito on a clear surface

EMBL scientists support malaria research

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.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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

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.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-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

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…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2021

sciencescience-technology

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

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.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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.

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

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.

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS

2020

embl-announcementsevents

22 November 2017 The beamlines at PETRA III logo and Max von Laue hallwith an DESY-Day apple

Hands-on science inspires Hamburg

20,000 visitors get sneak peek at giant particle accelerators at DESY DAY in Hamburg

LAB MATTERS

2017

eventslab-matters

8 December 2016

10th PEPC course in Hamburg

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

CONNECTIONS

2016

connectionsevents

16 September 2014

Hamburg anniversary symposium: Preview

An interview with keynote speaker Michael Rossmann.

LAB MATTERS

2014

eventslab-matters

16 November 2005

New high-throughput crystallization facility at EMBL Hamburg to give boost to structural biology community

Today the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) opens a new highthroughput crystallization facility at its Outstation located on the campus of the German Synchrotron Radiation Facility (DESY) in Hamburg, Germany. The facility, made possible by major funds from the German Ministry for Science…

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS LAB MATTERS

2005

embl-announcementslab-matters

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EMBL Taxonomy:

Structural Biology (EMBL Hamburg)

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