Polymer Concepts in Cellular Function

The collaborative research center CRC 1551 focuses on understanding cellular function and behavior through the eyes of polymer chemistry and physics. Using polymer concepts, the consortium seek to fill the knowledge gap that is necessary to fully comprehend the molecular composition and requirement of life. The researchers in the consortium combine multidisciplinary approaches (medicine, biology, chemistry and physics) on both experimental and theoretical level to visualize and correlate the polymeric dynamics of DNA, RNA and proteins against their biological activity.

The research center comprises research groups from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), jointly with the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, both located on the JGU campus, as well as the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt and the University of Stuttgart. The DFG will be providing 9.5 million Euro to fund the center.