4000th protein structure decoded at BESSY II
The 4000th protein structure from HZB BESSY published in PDB shows the G64S variant of FKBP51 in complex with the highly selective ligand SAFit (marked structure). © C. Meyners/TU Darmstadt/HZB
The 4000th structure is the molecule FKBP51, which is linked to stress-induced diseases such as depression, chronic pain and diabetes. The team led by Prof. Felix Hausch, TU Darmstadt, is using the knowledge of the three-dimensional structure to develop new strategies for the design of suitable drugs.
Many diseases are related to malfunctions of proteins in the organism. The three-dimensional architecture of these molecules is often extremely complex, but provides valuable clues as to how the malfunction could be remedied, for example by drugs that bind perfectly into a "pocket" on the target molecule and block the malfunction. The structure of proteins can be deciphered with X-ray analyses at the MX beamlines of BESSY II.
The 4000th structure from BESSY II has now been entered in the Protein Data Bank (www.rcsb.org/pdb), which contains all experimentally determined protein structures. The team led by Prof. Felix Hausch from TU Darmstadt had produced protein crystals from the molecule FKBP51 and examined them on the MX beamlines.
This is a protein that plays a special role in major health problems of our time. FKBP51 regulates the signal transduction of steroid hormone receptors, which can be disturbed by stress. This can trigger depression, chronic pain or diseases such as diabetes and obesity. The protein FKBP51 has shown promise as a target for drugs against these diseases. "Protein structure analysis shows us where interesting "pockets" are located in the molecule that could be drug targets," says Dr. Christian Meyners from the TU Darmstadt team.
- New method shows how molecular switches are influenced by their neighborsResearchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Helmholtz Centre Berlin (HZB) have, for the first time, been able to directly observe how the environment surrounding a molecular switch influences its electronic structure. Molecular switches are molecules that can be switched between two states by external influences such as changes in temperature—similar to a switch with the positions »On« and »Off«. Such molecules are being investigated as potential building blocks for future data storage devices or sensor materials. Using magnetic-field-dependent terahertz spectroscopy, the researchers have now, for the first time, been able to distinguish whether neighbouring molecules in a material are in the same or different states. The results have been published in the journal »Angewandte Chemie International Edition«.
- BESSY II is back in operation after maintenance shutdownOn 7 September 2026, BESSY II was set into operation after a four-week shutdown. BESSY II is scheduled to resume full user operation on 22 September.
- Protein crystallography at BESSY II: faster, better and more and more automaticMany diseases are linked to malfunctions of proteins in the organism. The three-dimensional architecture of these molecules is often highly complex, but it can provide valuable insights into biological processes and the development of drugs. X-ray diffraction at the MX beamlines of BESSY II can be used to decipher the 3D structure of proteins. To date, more than 5000 structures have been solved at the three MX beamlines. Here, we present a review and an outlook with Manfred Weiss, head of the research group for macromolecular crystallography.