Contact

Prof. Dr. Karim Fahmy

Head
Biophysics
k.fahmyhzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2952
+49 351 260 3601

Cooperations

Department of Biophysics

Research

The Biophysics Department conducts interdisciplinary research at the interface of biomolecular function, physical chemistry and radiochemistry. The activities contribute to the Helmholtz Research Programmes Nuclear Safety and Cancer Research in the Helmholtz-Association. We are member of the Cluster of Excellence "Physics of Life" (PoL) in Dresden.

We are particularly interested in:

structural and dynamic aspects of biomembranes
conformational transitions in membrane proteins
interactions between (radio)metals and biomolecules
effects of metals and radionuclides on the metabolism of microorganisms (Televised MDR report)

Education

The Biophysics department participates in the Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering (DIGS-BB) supported by the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments.

Practicals on Molecular Spectroscopy and Calorimetry are offered. The following lectures are held at the technische Universität Dresden and are elgible for the Master Specialization "Soft Condensed Matter and Biological Physics":

Biological Thermodynamics (English, summer semester)
Biophysical Methods (German, winter semester)

Seminar lectures for the International BIOTEC-Master Programme,

Vibrational Spectroscopy (English)
Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy (English)

Experimental Methods

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Circular dichroism
Static and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy
Calorimetry
Mass-Spectroscopy

Spectroscopic data are evaluated in combination with Density Functional Theory to understand photochemoical and photophysical properties of organic complexes of actinides

Latest Publication

Towards tailoring hydrophobic interaction with uranyl(VI) oxygen for C-H activation

Tsushima, S.; Kretzschmar, J.; Doi, H.; Okuwaki, K.; Kaneko, M.; Mochizuki, Y.; Takao, K.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) has a uranyl(VI) binding hotspot where uranium is tightly bound by three carboxylates. Uranyl oxygen is “soaked” into the hydrophobic core of BSA. Isopropyl hydrogen of Val is trapped near UO22+ and upon photoexcitation, C–H bond cleavage is initiated. A unique hydrophobic contact with “yl”-oxygen, as observed here, can be used to induce C-H activation.

Chemical Communications 60(2024), 4769-4772
Online First (2024) DOI: 10.1039/D4CC01030B

Team

Foto: Gruppenbild der Abteilung — Group image of the "Biophysics" department

Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Head
Prof. Dr. Karim Fahmy	801/P301	2952 3601	k.fahmyhzdr.de
Employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Jenny Philipp	801/P303	3247 3568	j.philipphzdr.de
Prof. Dr. Satoru Tsushima	801/P302	2978	s.tsushimahzdr.de
Other employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Dr. Charlotte Kielar	801/P303	3247 3892	c.kielarhzdr.de

Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular Condensates

Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Head
Dr. Ellen Adams	801/P301	2911	e.adamshzdr.de
Employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Artur Czajkowski	801/P303	3375	a.czajkowskihzdr.de
Likhitha Chakra Priya Pulibandla	801/P303	3375	l.pulibandlahzdr.de
Juliane Tippmann			j.tippmannhzdr.de