Featured

DFG Individual Research Project Granted

Understanding Antibiotic Resistance and Enzymatic Catalysis by Combining Computational and Experimental Molecular Biophysics

We will explore the relationship between the evolution of antibiotic resistance and the physical forces or non-covalent interactions that exist within enzymatic catalysts. Towards this goal, we will make use of a combined approach of computational and experimental vibrational spectroscopy in defined, external electric fields. Interested candidates for a doctoral thesis within this project to are invited to contact Dr. Jacek Kozuch (jacek.kozuch@fu-berlin.de).

‘In Situ Spectroscopic Detection of Large-Scale Reorientations of Transmembrane Helices During Influenza A M2 Channel Opening’ published in Angew. Chem.

Viroporins are viral ion channels that play important role during viral infection and, thus, present important drug targets. Using SEIRA spectroscopy we monitor the activity of Influenza A M2 proton channel in a model membrane and identify the mechanical opening of the channel as a transition to a more ‘fanned out’ structure.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309069

Review on ‘Surface-enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy’ in Nat. Rev. Methods Primers

As part of an invitation by Nature Reviews Methods Primers we have published together with Ken Ataka and Joachim Heberle a review on the method of ‘Surface-enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy’, SEIRAS. SEIRAS enhanced IR spectra at interface by 102 – 107 and, thus, allows to study single-layered assemblies. We discuss the basics, important experimental consideration as well as highlight case studies from electrochemistry, trace analysis, and biofunctional studies.

DOI: 10.1038/s43586-023-00253-8

Open PhD position in Experimental Molecular Biophysics of Protein Misfolding in Neurodegenerative Diseases

PhD position (m/f/d) in Experimental Molecular Biophysics of protein folding and misfolding in neurodegenerative diseases at the Freie Universität Berlin (65% TV-L E13, 36 month)

We are again looking for a motivated student who is interested in exploring biomedically relevant, physico-chemical concepts of protein/peptide (mis)folding trajectories at lipid membranes. This will be studied using surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) and AFM-based nanoscale Infrared spectroscopies at bilayer lipid membranes. Required: completed university studies (master) in (bio/physical) chemistry, biophysics, physics or related natural sciences. If you have experience with vibrational spectroscopy or atomic force microscopy and furthermore enjoy working and preparing proteins/peptides or membrane systems (or look forward to learning these skills), you are a good fit. Apply electronically (one PDF; motivation letter, CV, certificates, one letter of recommendation) by e-mail to Dr. Jacek Kozuch (jacek.kozuch@fu-berlin.de) until 09.05.2022. More info https://www.fu-berlin.de/universitaet/beruf-karriere/jobs/wiss/20_fb-physik/PH-KO5464-5.html.

Open PhD position in Computational and Experimental Biophysics of Antibiotic Resistance

PhD position (m/f/d) in Computational and Experimental Biophysics of Antibiotic Resistance at the Freie Universität Berlin (65% TV-L E13, 36 month)

We are looking for motivated students who enjoy bridging experimental and computational methods in biophysical chemistry or biophysics. You will explore the physico-chemical concepts of how electric field-driven catalysis enables the degradation of antibiotics in the context of antibiotic resistance. This will be analyzed using experimental vibrational spectroscopy in defined electric fields and correlated with computational spectroscopic approaches. Required: completed university studies (diploma, master) in (physical) chemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics or related natural sciences. If you have experience with molecular dynamics simulations and/or vibrational spectroscopy as well as enjoy coding with Python or look forward to learning these skills, you are a good fit. Apply electronically (one PDF; motivation letter, CV, certificates) by e-mail to Dr. Jacek Kozuch (jacek.kozuch@fu-berlin.de) until 28.02.2022. More info https://www.fu-berlin.de/universitaet/beruf-karriere/jobs/wiss/20_fb-physik/PH-DFG-KO5464-4-1.html.

Evolution Towards Antibiotic Resistance through Electrostatics and Chemical Positioning

Paper accepted in ACS Central Scienice on Electrostatics and Chemical Positioning in Enzymes Evolution towards Antibiotic Resistance

What are the physical origins of antibiotic resistance? Using experiments and theory we explore the active site electric fields and chemical positioning in β-lactamases.

Schneider & Kozuch et al., ACS Centr. Sci., 2022, 7, 1996-2008
The Interplay of Electrostatics and Chemical Positioning in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance in TEM β-Lactamases.
DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00880