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

Efficient density functional theory directed identification of siderophores with increased selectivity towards indium and germanium

Hintersatz, C.; Tsushima, S.; Kaufer, T.; Kretzschmar, J.; Thewes, A.; Pollmann, K.; Jain, R.

Abstract

Siderophores are promising ligands for application in novel recycling and bioremediation technologies, as they can selectively complex a variety of metals. However, with over 250 known siderophores, the selection of suiting complexant in the wet lab is impractical. Thus, this study established a density functional theory (DFT) based approach to efficiently identify siderophores with increased selectivity towards target metals on the example of germanium and indium. Considering 239 structures, chemically similar siderophores were clustered, and their complexation reactions modeled utilizing DFT. The calculations revealed siderophores with, compared to the reference siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB), up to 128 % or 48 % higher selectivity for indium or germanium, respectively. Experimental validation of the method was conducted with fimsbactin A and agrobactin, demonstrating up to 40% more selective indium binding and at least sevenfold better germanium binding than DFOB, respectively. The results generated in this study open the door for the utilization of siderophores in eco-friendly technologies for the recovery of many different critical metals from various industry waters and leachates or bioremediation approaches. This endeavor is greatly facilitated by applying the herein-created database of geometry-optimized siderophore structures as de novo modeling of the molecules can be omitted.

Keywords: Agrobactin; Fimsbactin A; selective recovery; density functional theory; indium; germanium; screening

Related publications

Data publication: Efficient density functional theory directed identification …
ROBIS: 39455 HZDR-primary research data are used by this (Id 39454) publication

Journal of Hazardous Materials 478(2024), 135523
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135523

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-39454

More publications

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
Manthan Raj	801/P303	3375	m.rajhzdr.de
Juliane Tippmann			j.tippmannhzdr.de
Abhirami Udayabanu			a.udayabanuhzdr.de