Prof. Thomas Schwartz

Research in the Schwartz lab aims at understanding protein function on the basis of atomic structure determination using x-ray crystallography as the main tool. One focal point is the elucidation of the structure of the nuclear pore complex, an elaborate macromolecular protein assembly that constitutes the only gateway into and out of the eukaryotic cell nucleus. A second area of interest centers on the regulation of protein transport across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, a process that relies on the concerted action of three G proteins. We employ an integrative approach to these research areas combining structure determination with biochemical, biophysical and cell biological methods.