Welcome to the Behrmann Lab

We are a group of the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Cologe.

Life is not static and neither are the majority of proteins crucial to the function of our cells. However, our structural understanding of these microscopic machines is often limited to one or at best few static snap-shots.

My research group is focused on understanding how the dynamic interplay among a proteins domains defines its biological function. For this, we apply cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to visualize active protein assemblies in native-like environments. By applying in silico sorting and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques, we can untangle individual functional states from conformer mixtures, and determine their 3D structures to near-atomic resolution. By comparing multiple functional states obtained from the same sample, we can then uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of the studied protein. Our main interest lies in proteins that react to light in one form or another and use this input signal to trigger behavioural changes. To this end, we are developing specialised freeze plungers that enable us to obtain the structures of these proteins in defined biochemical states.