Institute of Biochemistry

graphic slider element

Slide: Life is made out of cells - take a deeper look.
Slide: Life is made out of cells - take a deeper look.
Slide: Learn the biochemistry needed to fight the corona virus.
Slide: Bacteria rule the world we don't see - understanding their biochemistry is key.
Slide: Biochemistry gives you the close up view of your body.
Slide: You are written in DNA - crack the code.

The DNA helix over cells with painted chromosomes. Zephyris & Fields
You are written in DNA - crack the code.
Simulation of a mycoplasma cell with a membrane in green, cytoplasmic proteins in blue, and DNA in yellow. CC-by M Maritan.
Life is made out of cells - take a deeper look.
The corona virus in purple emerges from a blue/green cell. NIAID
Learn the biochemistry needed to fight the corona virus.
Bacterial DNA on the left is tightly packed with other cell machinery and its motor in green. Goodsell
Bacteria rule the world we don't see - understanding their biochemistry is key.
Red blood cell left surrounded by yellow serum proteins. Goodsell
Biochemistry gives you the close up view of your body.
The DNA helix over cells with painted chromosomes. Zephyris & Fields
You are written in DNA - crack the code.

Study with us

Bachelor of Science in Biochemie

Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Research areas (PhD opportunities)

Welcome

The Institute of Biochemistry currently comprises seven research groups working in the areas of molecular neurobiology, peptide-based transport systems, redox biochemistry, structural biology and lipid metabolism, and plant immunity.

We belong to the Department of Chemistry and are associated with the Department of Biology, collaborating closely with both in research and teaching. Our physical location is close to the center of Cologne (see map to the right).

News and Research

Danger sensing in cells involves the formation of NLRP3 filaments. With contributions from the Behrmann lab, 2019.
Review article on "Redox-regulated chaperones in cell stress responses", Ulrich, 2023
New immune signaling mechanism uncovered in plants. Parker and Chai labs, 2022.
Variants of the casein kinase cause a new form of intellectual disability. With contributions by K Niefind, 2022.
Characterization of the molybdenum-dependent enzymes ARC1/2 in A. thaliana. Maiber et al., 2022.
GFPT2 and AMDHD2 control the metabolism of hexosamine amino sugars. Research with contributions from the Baumann lab, 2022.
Molecular mechanism of the sulfite oxidase. Research by the Schwarz lab, 2022.
Mitochondria shed their outer membrane in response to infection. With contributions by J Riemer, 2022.
Strategies to make peptides that can penetrate cells and be antimicrobial. Research by the Neundorf lab, 2021.
Cells put a break on their immune receptor NLRP1 with the control molecule DPP9. Research by the Chai lab. 2021
Danger sensing in cells involves the formation of NLRP3 filaments. With contributions from the Behrmann lab, 2019.
Review article on "Redox-regulated chaperones in cell stress responses", Ulrich, 2023