Research Concept

Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology

Legal Notice

Prof. Dr. Matthias Müller Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology Brüderstraße 32 04103 Leipzig Germany Leipzig, March 2010

Table of Content

List of Abbreviations 2 Research Partners 3 Top-level Research Areas 3 at the University of Leipzig

Research Concept 5 of the Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology

Primary Research Topic 1: 9 Ecology and Biodiversity

Primary Research Topic 2: 16 Molecular and Cellular Communication and Interaction

Primary Research Topic 3: 21 Molecular Design and Process Development

Primary Research Topic 4: 27 Psychological and Neurobiological Bases of Cognitive Processes

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List of Abbreviations

BA Bachelor’s degree programme

BMBF German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

BMWi German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

BuildMoNa Leipzig School of Natural Sciences –Building with Molecules and Nano-objects (Graduate School)

CHE Centre for Higher Education Development

CNW Curricularnormwert1

CRC Collaborative Research Centre

DAAD German Academic Exchange Service

DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)

ESF European Social Fund

EU European Union

FOR Research Unit

GK Research Training Group

KFO Clinical Research Unit

MA Master’s degree programme

NF Follow-up

NWG Junior Research Group

PbF Top-level Research Area

PD Private lecturer

SPP Priority Programmes

TP Individual projects (as part of a CRC)

TRR CRC/ Transregio (variation of the Collaborative Research Centre programme)

W1/W2/W3 Salary grades

WS Winter semester

1 Hours per semester and week that an individual teaching staff member is supposed to commit per individual student (differs from subject to subject).

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Research Partners

BBZ Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine

Fraunhofer-IZI Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig

Helmholtz-UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle-Leipzig

IOM Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification

MPI-EVA Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

MPI-CBS Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences

MPI-MIS Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences

PFI Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research (Faculty of Medicine)

SIAB Saxon Institute for Applied Biotechnology

TRM Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Leipzig

Top-level Research Areas (PbF) at the University of Leipzig

PbF 1 Molecules and Nano-objects

PbF 2 Mathematics in the Sciences

PbF 3 Molecular and Cellular Communication

PbF 4 Brain, Cognition and Language

PbF 5 Contested Order

PbF 6 Environmental Changes and Disease

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Research Concept of the Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology

The goal of the Research Concept is to help advance the knowledge and scientific research in

the Faculty’s academic fields as well as in cooperation with non-university research

institutions. To this end, the research areas of the individual research groups were brought

together in four Primary Research Topics. These Primary Research Topics form an integral

part of various Top-level Research Areas at the University of Leipzig laid down in the

University’s research concept adopted by the senate on 15 September 2006. The Faculty’s

four Primary Research Topics comprise:

- Ecology and Biodiversity

- Molecular and Cellular Communication and Interaction

- Molecular Design and Process Development

- Psychological and Neurobiological Bases of Cognitive Processes

Each of those research topics is structured into four subdivisions that in turn serve as primary

research areas.

Apart from enhancing the Faculty’s research portfolio, the Research Concept aims at

advancing university teaching. On the one hand, the latest results of our research are to be

included directly into the modules for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes and

taught in all courses of study. On the other hand, the Research Concept serves as a tool to

develop and implement innovative teaching concepts and provide stimulating courses that

will place the Faculty in a premier position when it comes to competing for and attracting the

best students.

In summary our research and teaching objectives include:

- enhancing the research portfolio and improving international visibility

- joint utilization of equipment and facilities

- supporting scientific cooperation with partners from outside the Faculty

- offering and nurturing a favourable scientific environment in which new research

collaborations can be established in the form of Research Units, applications for the

Excellence Initiative, as well as Research Training Groups and Collaborative Research

Centres etc.

- structured concepts for the promotion of junior researchers

- establishing stimulating courses of study for the BA and MA programmes; this also

applies to the setting up of international Master’s degree programmes

The Research Concept forms the basis for target agreements between the Faculty of

Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology and the University rectorate. In order to achieve our

objectives, long-term planning security in terms of staff and financial resources as well as

investments is required. A further objective is to form new structures and to continuously

strengthen our scientific competences by establishing new posts for professors and staff in

order to successfully implement the concept.

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Objectives

External Funding

The Faculty has had, and continues to have, remarkable success in attracting external funding.

It has managed to more than triple external funding over the past six years. In 2009 the

Faculty was awarded more than €7 million in external grants. Within the context of the

primary research topics, the research groups are committed to enhance the interconnection of

research priorities at the local level, and thus strengthen the integrative approach of the top-

level research areas. The subsequent sections on each of the primary research topics outline

the plans foreseen to acquire, large-scale cooperative research projects. In addition to these

cooperative projects, we also plan to carry out individual research projects.

Promotion of Junior Researchers

Within the framework of research programmes focusing on the primary research topics, the

faculty manages two Research Training Groups funded by the German Research Foundation

DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft): “InterNeuro” and “Function of Attention in

Cognition”. For these two Research Training Groups we have secured funding until 2014.

Furthermore, two integrated Research Training Groups – “Protein Science” and “Matrix

Engineering” – are funded as part of the CRC 610 and CRC/ Transregio 67 programmes,

respectively. Their funding period expires December 2012 and June 2013, respectively. CRC/

Transregio 67 can be extended until 2021. Our Faculty also participates in both of the

International Max Planck Research Schools – NeuroCom and Human Origins – as well as in

the BuildMoNa Graduate School as part of the Excellence Initiative launched by the German

federal government, and the Graduate School HIGRADE at UFZ. Moreover, there are a

number of other research opportunities for the doctorate emerging from the currently running

research projects at the Faculty (see list of examples).

Within the framework of Primary Research Topic 2, the Faculty is to establish a Junior

Research Group on the topic of “Molecular Modelling”. After the departure of Prof.

Hofmann, a Junior Research Group is to be established that deals with the modelling of

membrane proteins, in particular receptors.

Setting up new Degree Programmes

In order to internationalize our degree programmes, we plan to establish two international MA

programmes in the near future:

Primary Research Topic 1: “Ecology and Functional Biodiversity”

Primary Research Topic 4: “Being human: from neurocellular substrates to evolution of

cognition”

As part of the restructuring of our Faculty’s current degree programmes, we are committed to:

Primary Research Topic 1: optimizing the MA Biology

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Primary Research Topic 2: reducing the MA Biochemistry priority areas from currently five

to three, comprising Biomedicine, Biotechnology/Environmental Biochemistry and Bio-

analytics/ Molecular Biochemistry

Primary Research Topic 3: introducing in cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry an

MA degree programme in which researchers can specialize in industry-related issues. The

programme may be pursued after the completion of a four-year degree programme in

Pharmacy and the required state examination

Primary Research Topic 4: introducing the MA degree programme Psychology

Internationalization

International MA degree programmes (see above) will be established at the Faculty.

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Primary Research Topic 1: Ecology and Biodiversity

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This primary research topic is dedicated to the study of biological diversity, its dynamics and

relevance for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This includes qualitative and quantitative

analysis of extant and historical situations with regard to evolutionary biology. Diversity

analysis is carried out at various levels – at the population level, among species and within the

systematics of major groups. The functional analysis of species and their impact on complex

ecosystems is also conducted. The repertoire of methods includes genetic/ genome, molecular

biological and experimental approaches as well as ecoinformatics and modelling. The focus

of this research topic leads to a novel understanding of the ways in which diversity evolves

and is maintained. It also sheds light on the impact diversity has on ecosystem functioning

and ecosystem services and how their provision is maintained also under conditions of

exploitation and adaptation pressure.

Five dedicated research groups from the Institutes of Biology I and II and the Helmholtz

Center for Environmental Research cooperate in this core area. Each group has its individual

research focus altogether covering plant ecophysiology and functional diversity, molecular

evolution and systematics of animals, soil ecology – with a focus on fungi, and environmental

microbiology. In the field of the molecular evolution of plants, a new post is to be established.

The individual research priorities are highly complementary and cover a huge array of the

ecological spectrum. They include the following subdivisions:

Area 1: Molecular Evolution and Genetic Variation

Extant patterns of biodiversity are the result of evolutionary and demographic processes

evolving over long periods of time. Using phylogenetic methods, researchers reconstruct the

evolution and resilience of diversity throughout the history of the earth, and its response to

environmental conditions. Researchers study, for example, the phylogeny of major groups,

such as Deuterostomia and Annelida, in the Cambrian Radiation and the evolution of the

innate immune system. A further field of research is the phylogeny of heterotrophic and

autotrophic protists as well as the functional understanding of population dynamics and

biological diversity in various aquatic ecosystems impacted by anthropogenic factors. This is

achieved by means of molecular reconstruction of the mechanisms driving production and

mortality. Furthermore, new classes of algae are analyzed on all taxonomic ranks with the aim

to identify the processes responsible for selection success by means of phylogenetic analysis.

The Faculty’s research activities also explore the role of historical and spatial factors in

maintaining genetic variation in animal populations (in particular in species of lizards of the

genus Lacerta). This is done on the basis of morphological characters, but primarily by using

molecular markers. In addition, molecular methods are applied, such as in situ hybridization

and genomic approaches – conducting, for example, transcriptome analysis and thereby

generating a large amount of data for phylogenetic analysis. The involvement of the Botanical

Garden in the Index Seminum is a significant contribution to the preservation of plant genetic

diversity.

Area 2: Systematics of Major Groups and Diversity Analysis

The earth’s biological diversity has not been characterized completely. While possessing

ample knowledge about the species diversity among higher animals and plants, the diversity

among various groups of microorganisms (fungi, protists and bacteria) remains mostly

unknown. Our research activities are organized to place special emphasis on these groups. As

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an outcome of this focus, often species of microorganisms are discovered that, from time to

time, require the systematics of the major groups to be restructured; because the species do

not fit into the current systematics. In order to measure the structural and functional diversity

of microorganisms, molecular biological, cytometric and biochemical methods are used.

Moreover, the genetic diversity within animal populations and the functional diversity in

fungal, algal and higher plant (primarily in forest plant) communities are analyzed at the local,

regional and global scale. Measuring diversity in ecosystems that so far have not been

thoroughly explored, such as forest floors and canopies, is also on our list of research

activities.

Area 3: Ecological Adaptation and Functional Diversity

Organisms can adapt to the conditions of their biotic and abiotic environment thanks to

evolutionary and demographic processes. At the same time, due to their species-specific

physiological, morphological and demographic characteristics, organisms have an impact on

the ecosystems they form part of. The comparative analysis of the organisms’ traits forms the

basis of functional diversity research. In botany, research activities can range from the

characterization of primary metabolism of proteins, organelles and cells to the creation of

global databases of characteristics and macroecological analyses at the biome level. In soil

ecology and microbiology, methods such as transcriptomics and metabolite profiling are used

to measure primarily physiological characteristics of various taxonomic groups. Functional

diversity research explores the impact these characteristics or characteristics spectra of

ecological communities have on ecosystem functioning. In this context, the presence of

certain key species (species identity effects) or species richness per se (diversity effects) can

be of importance. In order to study the underlying processes, empirical methods and

ecological modelling are used. Empirical methods study ecosystem functioning within the

framework of natural or experimental diversity gradients. A variety of functions are analyzed

that include soil processes (enzymae activities, metabolic quotient, microbial degradation of

pollutants) and ecosystem processes (metabolic costs, net primary production, carbon

sequestration, water use, nutrient turnover, resilience, succession). Within the framework of

cooperative research projects, the research groups are currently involved in four

internationally renowned diversity projects that will partly use the Botanical Garden at the

University of Leipzig as a platform. Field experiments are currently conducted in many of the

earth’s vegetation zones (boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical ecosystems).

Area 4: Climate Change and Biotechnological Response

Biological diversity is severely affected by global change (climate change, land use changes,

invasive species). On the other hand, ecosystems become resilient against the impacts of

global change thanks to biological diversity. In particular, this last aspect is extensively

explored. Experiments that are currently conducted study the climate-driven population

dynamics and genetic variation of ciliate populations. They also explore the stability-diversity

link in grasslands, the impact of increased fire occurrence on succession and climate feedback

of Siberian forests or the changing energy balance in the generation of new biomass under

climate change conditions. Another focus is the “diversification” of terrestrial systems

models. Data based inverse and hierarchical modelling techniques are used to establish new

functional groups and determine suitable mode parameters for modelling terrestrial systems.

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In cooperation with various modelling groups, interactions between plant diversity and the

climate on a global scale are analyzed.

The exploration of functional characteristics of known and new taxa and biological

communities offers a huge potential for the development of new environmental

biotechnologies (“Econics”). For example, environmental microbiology research activities

focus on defining the processes underlying the relations between microbial biodiversity and

ecosystem functioning and microbe-plant interactions. The knowledge obtained from these

research activities is utilized for developing robust biotechnological methods that help

optimize the degradation of pollutants, the growing of renewable resources, wastewater

treatment or the production of biogas. In plant physiology, bio-optical methods are developed

(FT-IR spectroscopy). These methods can be applied to swiftly determine the molecular and

element composition of plant tissue, and thus help analyzing the immediate response of plants

to environmental stresses as well as biotic interactions. Controlled interactions of specific

biological communities are used to develop new highly efficient biotechnological systems for

biofuel production.

Cooperative Research Projects

In addition to conducting numerous individual projects, the members of the research groups

are also involved in many large-scale cooperative research projects (selection):

SPP 1162 “The influence of environmental warming on the genetic diversity of a

ciliate species (Paramecium caudatum)”: Schlegel (IB II, 1 TP, renewal proposal for

3rd

funding period submitted)

SPP 1174 “Phylogenomics of myzostomids and annelids – causes and consequences

of incongruence in phylogenetic analyses”: Bleidorn (IB II, 1 TP, PI)

SPP 1374 “Biodiversity Exploratories”: Buscot (UFZ/IB I, 3 TP), Wirth (IB I, 1 TP)

FOR 1261 “Specific light-driven reactions in unicellular model algae”: Wilhelm (IB I,

1 TP)

FOR 456 “The Jena Experiment”: Wirth (IB I, 3 TP)

FOR 891 “BEF China (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in subtropical forests

in China)”: Buscot (UFZ/IB I, 1 TP), Wirth (IB 1, 2 TP)

FOR 918: Buscot (UFZ/IB I, 1 TP)

BMBF “Artificial membranes for bioactive algae”: Wilhelm (project ID: 16SV38773)

BMBF “Determination of C/N, C/P, C/Si ratios in phytoplankton cells by means of

FT-IR spectroscopy”: Wilhelm (project ID: 02WU0777)

DFG PAK 12 “Biochips to monitor N-transformation in soils“: Buscot (UFZ/IB I, 1

TP)

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EU “RAISEBIO”: Harms (UFZ/IB I, 1 TP)

(IB = Institute of Biology, TP = individual project)

Selected Publications

Barth D, Tischer K, Berger H, Schlegel M, Berendonk TU (2008): Surprisingly high

mitochondrial haplotype diversity of Coleps sp. (Ciliophora: Prostomatida).

Environmental Microbiology 10, 626-634.

Luis P, Behnke K, Wilhelm C (2006): Gene expression profiling and physiological analyses

of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in response to increasing Cu2+

concentrations allows the

identification of stress phase gene markers. Plant Cell Environment 29, 2043-2054.

Hempel S, Renker C, Buscot F (2007): Differences in the species composition of arbuscular

mycorrhizal fungi in spore, root and soil communities in a grassland ecosystem.

Environmental Microbiology 9, 1930-1938.

Kattge J, Knorr W, Raddatz T, Wirth C (2009): Quantifying photosynthetic capacity and

nitrogen use efficiency for earth system models. Global Change Biology 15(4), 976-991.

Pernthaler A, Dekas AE, Brown CT, Goffredi SK, Embaye T, Orphan VJ (2008): Diverse

syntrophic partnerships from deep-sea methane vents revealed by direct cell capture and

metagenomics Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 105, 7052-7057.

Research Outlook

The Faculty plans to conduct joint research projects (CRC/ Transregio of DFG, research

cluster, EU projects) in the following areas:

research in the areas of landscape genetics, meta-population structures and differential

sensitivity of animal populations to habitat fragmentation and increased land use

pressure (Area A)

development and optimization of molecular biological methods and acquisition of

high throughput analysis applications for characterizing the diversity and structure of

soil and aquatic microbial communities, and of microbial communities in technical

systems (Area B)

identification of key mechanisms and key biological actors of soil functions in order to

characterize, on various scales, the soil response to various different land use types

(Area C)

development of global botanical databases of plant characteristics and databases of

ecological projects as a basis for evolution research, functional biodiversity research,

and terrestrial systems modelling (Areas C and D)

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development and utilization of model systems for analyzing multitrophic interactions

which can be used as phytometers (Area C)

establishment of a pan-European network of forest biodiversity exploratories (Area C)

establishment of a research cluster for strengthening the analysis and evaluation of the

Kreinitz Tree Diversity Experiment at the UFZ (Area C)

creation of a new Global Change Experimental Facility (GCEF) with which to explore

in an experimental way the impact of important factors of climate change (increased

temperature, increased drought risk, higher concentrations of CO2) on various land use

systems (Area D)

identification of plant species combinations and diversity structures for biomass

production that are best adapted to climate change (plant community engineering)

(Area D)

monitoring and control of microbial processes in natural ecosystems, and development

und optimization of robust biotechnological methods based on the active principles of

functioning-diversity relations in microbe communities (Area D)

development of methods for the analysis of metabolic-physiological differences of

algae and plant taxa in the context of ecological observatories; analysis of the

relevance of these differences with regard to the generation and maintenance of plant

biological diversity (Area D)

Teaching Outlook

The Master’s degree programme Biology is to be reviewed. In its current form it lacks

efficiency and distinctiveness for both teaching staff and students. In a joint decision issued

by the Institutes of Biology I and II, we propose two to three Master’s degree programmes

that reflect the institutes’ distinctive focus.

This would allow us to develop an international Master’s degree programme “Ecology and

Functional Biodiversity” designed to provide students with the knowledge and methods they

need to understand all dimensions of modern biodiversity research, and structured according

to the research areas outlined above.

Students are provided with the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to

understand the diversity and function of organisms and communities of the most

important taxa (bacteria, fungi – primarily mycorrhiza, algae, higher plant species,

insects, vertebrates) as well as the multitrophic relations between these taxa.

Students learn about a wide range of molecular biological methods for measuring and

characterizing diversity. At the organism level, the botanical garden has a crucial role

in enabling students to understand diversity.

Teaching of concepts and methods in evolutionary biology is done in various different

systematic groups.

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Furthermore, students learn about the central physiological and ecosystem processes

(photosynthesis, net primary production, matter turnover in soil and aquatic systems,

herbivory, disturbances) as well as the statistical, physical and chemical methods to

measure their quantity.

Students are provided with the insight they need to gain an understanding of the

ecological problems of global change (global change ecology) and the new research

field of econics.

While high priority is given to the ability of students to apply modern quantitative

methods to analyze ecological and evolutionary biological data (experimental design,

Bayesian phylogenetic, multivariate, and hierarchical statistics), equal emphasis is

placed on the students’ acquisition of what is known as soft skills (writing skills,

presentation skills, self-management).

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Primary Research Topic 2: Molecular and Cellular Communication and Interaction

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This primary research topic looks at the coordinated interaction between macromolecules

inside the cell in order to record their regulation and functionalities. In addition to the

functional conformations and interaction of proteins and protein complexes, this field also

focuses on the interaction between nucleic acids and their binding partners. Another field of

research is the interaction of enzymes with their substrates and the resulting catalysis

processes as well as the interaction of ligands with their receptors. These interdependencies

are examined within the cell but also in vitro in exactly defined reaction batches. In addition

to these biological/biochemical analyses, computerized studies are also used for additional

characterization and make it possible to simulate movements of the interaction partners or

their domains. Another focus within this core topic is on research regarding the interaction

between cells and the tissue around them, with the aim to understand communication at the

molecular level.

Several dedicated research groups from the Institutes of Biochemistry, Biology and Pharmacy

cooperate in this core area. Close and active cooperation in all areas of research exists with

institutes at the Faculties of Medicine, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as well as the

Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BBZ) and institutes of the Max Planck Society

(MPI EVA), the Helmholtz Association (UFZ) and the Fraunhofer Society (Fraunhofer-IZI).

Area 1: Transmembrane Receptors: Signal Transduction and Impact of Active Substances

In addition to peptide/protein hormones acting as ligands, the relevant receptors are also

examined regarding their structure-activity relationship as well as their biological function.

Variants of these heptahelix receptors are used which make it possible to assess the

interaction on the part of the receptor. Fluorescent-labelled receptors are generated to that end

and produced in a steady and transient way in mammalian cells. In addition to the

identification of the ligands, an important focus is on signal transduction and on the

examination of the receptors' conformation changes by means of biophysical methods.

Furthermore, the systems are used to analyze the receptors’ biosynthesis, membrane

integration, internalization and the trafficking of the receptors. Fundamental findings

regarding the functionality and structure of transmembrane proteins can thus be obtained.

Area 2: Peptide/Protein Hormones

Acting as ligands, peptide and protein hormones couple to receptors on the cell surface in

order to transmit their signals into the cell. This core area mainly focuses on generating

modified peptides and proteins by means of bioorganic and molecular biological methods as

well as a combination of both approaches and on exploring their interaction capabilities. Not

only binding studies, but also activity studies are used through signal transduction assays.

Besides chemokines, the focus is on neuro-peptides and adipocytokines, which are important

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for the regulation of the food intake and ingestion as well as for metabolism regulation. The

peptides are synthesized through automated, robot-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis and

determined in a bioanalysis process. Proteins are obtained through chemical protein

modification methods like expressed protein ligation and native chemical ligation. By using

non-proteinogenic amino acids, it becomes possible to identify structure-activity relationships

and to analyze them by means of molecular dynamics simulation.

Area 3: RNA Biochemistry: Substrate and Catalyst

RNA molecules do not only act as information carriers, they can also catalyze reactions as

ribozymes. As aptamers and riboswitches, they furthermore have binding characteristics

similar to those of antibodies and they bind to their specific target molecules with high

affinity and selectivity. Aptamers against new target molecules are developed in in vitro and

in vivo systems. They are of major biotechnological and medical interest. Examinations are

also carried out to see what structural and functional characteristics of these nucleic acids

affect the specificity of the interactions. Non-coding RNA molecules are not only used to

explore these artificial systems, they are also used to examine biological systems regarding

their regulation function. Another focus is on the substrate function of individual transcripts.

The complex interactions of nucleotidyltransferases with their tRNA substrates are also

analyzed. These special polymerases are extremely interesting, modular catalysts with

extraordinary characteristics, which make it possible to reproduce the evolution of proteins in

the test tube and in computer simulations so that we can better understand it.

Area 4: Enzymes in the Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism

Aromatic compounds are the second most common class of organic substances in nature;

some arenes are detrimental to our health and the environment. It was recently discovered that

bacteria are able to fully degrade aromatic pollutants, also without oxygen. Still unexplored

enzyme complexes are involved in many degradation methods. One of the central questions of

this area of research is how the extremely stable aromatic ring can be affected without

oxygen. In anaerobic bacteria, reductases are used for that, which transfer electrons at

extremely negative redox potentials. Initial research on the interaction between the enzyme

complexes involved at the molecular level is an important topic in this regard. Such ring

reductases could be specifically used as biocatalysts for the production of fine

chemicals/pharmaceuticals in the future.

New glucano-transferases and hydrolases are the focus of research into enzymes of

biotechnological relevance. Carbohydrate bioengineering is used to examine changes in the

product specificity of bacterial glucano-transferases for the synthesis of novel cyclodextrins

with molecular identification characteristics. Furthermore, research efforts are made regarding

the optimization of the thermostability and substrate specificity of esterases degrading

polyethylene terephthalate for the biocatalytic functionalization of synthetic polymers.

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Cooperative Research Projects

DFG SPP 1170 (Directed Evolution to optimise and understand molecular

biocatalysts) with 2 post-graduate (PhD) positions, 1 laboratory assistant in the Mörl

research group

6 DFG Individual Grants with 1 postdoc position and 7 post-graduate (PhD) positions

CRC 610: Variation in Protein Conformation: Cell biological and Pathological

Relevance, 3 post-graduate (PhD) positions, 1 laboratory assistant Beck-Sickinger

research group

FOR 630: Biological function of organometallic compounds, 2 post-graduate (PhD)

positions Beck-Sickinger/Neundorf research group

KFO 152: Atherobesity: Adipose Tissue and Vasculature, 2 post-graduate (PhD)

positions Beck-Sickinger research group

HIGRADE: System-biological approach: 1 post-graduate (PhD) position Beck-

Sickinger/von Bergen research group

DFG SPP 1319: 5 post-graduate (PhD) positions within the Boll, von Bergen,

Richnow research groups

EU-FP7 (MAGIC-PAH): 3 post-graduate (PhD) positions within the Boll, von Bergen,

Richnow research groups

Selected Publications

Betat, H., Rammelt, C., Martin, G. and Mörl, M. (2004), Exchange of regions between

bacterial poly(A) polymerase and CCA adding enzyme generates altered specificities. Mol.

Cell 15, 389-398.

Neuenfeldt, A., Just, A., Betat, H. and Mörl, M. (2008), Evolution of tRNA

Nucleotidyltransferases: A Small Deletion generated CC-Adding Enzymes. Proc. Natl.

Acad. Sci. USA 105 No.23, 7953-7958.

Butter, F., Scheibe, M., Mörl, M., and Mann, M. (2009), Unbiased RNA-Protein Interaction

Screen by quantitative Proteomics. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106 No. 26, 10626-10631.

Thiele, B., Rieder, O., Golding, B.T., Müller, M. and Boll M. (2008), Mechanism of

enzymatic Birch reduction: stereochemical course and exchange reactions of benzoyl-CoA

reductase., J Am Chem Soc 130, 14050-14051.

Kung JW, Löffler C, Dörner K, Heintz D, Gallien S, Van Dorsselaer A, Friedrich T, and Boll

M. (2009), Identification and characterization of the tungsten-containing class of benzoyl-

coenzyme A reductases. Proc Natl Acad Sci 106, 17687-92.

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Haack M, Enck S, Seger H, Geyer A, and Beck-Sickinger AG (2008), Novel Backbone Scan

to Elucidate Structural Properties of a Flexible Peptide Segment, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130,

8326-8336.

Frommhold D, Ludwig A, Bixel MG, Zarbock A, Babushkina I, Weissinger M,

Cauwenberghs S, Lange-Sperandio B, Ellies LG, Marth JD, Beck-Sickinger AG, Zernecke

A, Weber C, Vestweber D, Ley K, and Sperandio M (2008), Sialyltransferase ST3Gal-IV

controls CXCR2-mediated firm leukocyte arrest during inflammation, J. Exp. Med. 205,

1435-1446.

David R, Günther R, Baumann L, Lühmann T, Hofmann HJ, Seebach D, and Beck-Sickinger

AG (2008), Artificial Chemokines – Combining Chemistry and Molecular Biology for the

Elucidation of Interleukin-8 Functionality, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 5311-5317.

Kölbel K, Ihling C, Bellmann-Sickert K, Neundorf I, Beck-Sickinger AG, Sinz A, Kühn U,

and Wahle E (2009), Type I arginine methyl transferases PRMT1 and 3 act distributively,

J. Biol Chem. 284, 8274-8282.

Teaching Outlook

The transition of the relevant degree programmes in biology and biochemistry to the

Bachelor/Master system has been completed and the programmes now offer modern and

attractive training modules with a focus on specific training for junior researchers in this

particular primary research field. The Pharmacy degree programme is currently being

modularized.

However, the Master’s degree programmes Biochemistry and Biology still require

optimization and, in part, also restructuring in order to make the course programme more

transparent and to offer the students optimum choices. To that end, the degree programmes

will be adapted to the existing primary research topics. It has therefore been proposed to

reduce the currently existing five priority areas to only three, comprising the extremely

attractive and sought-after profiles Biomedicine, Biotechnology/Environmental Biochemistry

and Bioanalytics/Molecular Biochemistry. The relevant modules for these profiles are set to

be readjusted and amplified through suitable, already existing modules. This reorganization of

the Master’s programmes will make it easier for the students to achieve the desired

specialization within the specified programme duration. In addition to that, close links will be

established with the research priorities that guarantee the students access to the latest methods

on the one hand and the research programme new talent with the right study profile on the

other hand.

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Primary Research Topic 3: Molecular Design and Process Development

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The third primary research topic has a biotechnology/pharmacy focus and concentrates on the

development and testing of active substances and pharmaceuticals as well as on biomass

refinement. The basic impetus for this primary research topic comes from the institutes for

Biochemistry, Pharmacy and Biology I.

Area 1: Development and Controlled Release of Active Substances / Nanobiotechnology

The key focus regarding the development of active substances is on the therapy of

cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, oncological, endocrinological diseases. Genetic

polymorphisms in the population cause different spectrums of activity and side effects in the

pharmacotherapy of complex diseases. An optimum pharmacotherapy will therefore need to

be individually adjusted in the future.

1. Systematic ligand-receptor interaction studies for peptides and proteins

Therapeutic peptides and small proteins have unique characteristics which make them

extremely interesting therapeutic agents. Different approaches are being pursued to identify

and develop such therapeutics for the treatment of adiposity and related diseases as well as for

the regeneration of bone and skin tissue.

2. Fragment-based development of low-molecular agents

The main focus of the programme for low-molecular agent research is on the development of

novel, high-throughput screening and assay concepts which, on the basis of template-induced

ligation reactions, realize a rational and systematic combination and variation of molecule

fragments and thus an integration of bioassay and chemical synthesis. These methods are

suitable for identifying and optimizing peptide, peptidomimetic and non-peptide agent

molecules. As model systems of these developments, proteases, phosphatases and protein

interaction domains are explored as target structures. These approaches are complemented by

structural biological and computer-aided, virtual methods.

3. Isolation and testing of low-molecular active agents from plant extracts

Drug discoveries from plant extracts should become the key focus under the new professor for

Pharmaceutical Biology in cooperation with the Institute for Biology I and the university

course Pharmacology for Scientists.

4. Identification of new targets for therapeutic use in disease-relevant in vitro testing systems

The development of new drugs requires the identification and characterization of new targets

by means of suitable in vitro methods, both cellular and by way of animal experiments. The

research focus will be on the purinergic and glutamatergic system as well as PDE10 inhibitors

associated with ischaemia, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases and research will be

done in cooperation with chemistry/synthetic research groups.

Area 2: Enzyme Optimization / Biomass Refinement

The identification and optimization of microbial biocatalysts is the main focus regarding the

development of innovative enzyme-based bioprocesses. To that end, new biocatalysts are

derived from bacteria from locations with a high degree of biodiversity and are then identified

23

and characterized. The qualities of enzymes are then enhanced with the aim to provide

biocatalysts with optimized activity and stability, which can then be used in an efficient

bioprocess with the necessary productivity.

As regards biotechnology, new approaches are being sought to determine the physiological

cell condition by way of biospectroscopy in order to be able to deduce optimized process

parameters. These techniques can also be used in the borderland between green and red

biotechnology. The research focus in this regard is on biomass refinery processes (wood

degradation and refinement) and on methane production through photosynthesis.

Methodologically, system-biological approaches are also used besides a broad range of bio-

optical and biochemical procedures. Against the backdrop of process control, the faculty

cooperates with the Saxon Institute for Applied Biotechnology (SIAB) and other supra-

regional research institutions.

Area 3: Biological Testing Systems (Biosensors, 3-D cell culture, animal models)

Biological testing systems facilitate effective drug discovery efforts and reduce the number of

animal experiments. 3-D organotypical tissue aggregates for retina, myocardium, smooth

muscles or micro-tumours have been established as testing systems for new active agents and

are also set to be retrieved from human embryonic stem cells in the future. Mathematical

approaches for the creation of in-silico cell and tissue models are planned to be developed in

the long term.

As regards regenerative medicine, 3-D testing systems for components and derivatives of the

extra-cellular matrix will be developed in order to analyze and improve the wound healing of

skin and bones. These testing systems thus facilitate the in vitro and in vivo testing of

otherwise soluble components.

Another focus is on the development of cell-based pharmacological testing systems for

ischaemic diseases and inflammation processes. In cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute

IZI, suitable animal models meeting the STAIR (Stroke Therapy Industry and Academic

Roundtable) criteria are used as complementary measures.

In the field of sensor technology, a novel, vital 3-D biochip is being developed for real-time

tests of the effects and possible side effects as well as toxic effects of active agents. A laser

and biosensor platform for functional real-time studies with the vital retina model has already

been developed. The long-term target is the development of a nano/micro biohybrid

technology platform through the miniaturization of equipment and methods with multifaceted

applications in the different life sciences.

The objective for the more distant future is the examination of processes within cells and at

their membrane interfaces by means of biochemical methods and physical measuring

methods. To that end, technologies like high-resolution multi-photon laser scanning

microscopy (STED, 4Pi), optical tweezers as well as measuring and structuring

nanotechnology (AFM) will increasingly be used.

Area 4: Biomaterial Development / Nano and Micro Structuring

Strategies used to enhance sensor surfaces by means of micro and nano-particle coatings are

planned to be combined with approaches used in tissue engineering in order to improve the

biocompatibility of implants. The utmost goal is to create implantable sensors with long-term

sensor activity.

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Biocatalytic functionalization: Processes using and enhancing microbial esterases are

developed for specific modifications of polymer surfaces under mild reaction conditions.

This technology can be used in the field of tissue engineering and functional biomaterials.

The controlled release of unstable agents is pursued by means of polymer-based implants of

natural and synthetic origin. Alginate hydrogels are relatively simple and secure release

systems for proteins and peptides. Polymer fibres produced through electrospinning and with

a defined fibre diameter will be an easy-to-monitor platform to release agents.

A release “on demand” becomes possible through the development of an implant on the basis

of a nano-structured electro-active polymer mix. The long-term target is the miniaturization of

the system and its use as a “human/machine” interface for telemetric in vivo monitoring.

Cyclic oligosaccharides with different geometries, produced through biocatalysis, can serve as

biosensors or for the controlled release of active agents. The main focus is on optimizing the

biocatalystic activity of bacterial glucano-transferases for the synthesis of cyclodextrins of a

specific size.

Cooperative Research Projects

ERANET-IB (EU) VOC reduction of lignin containing materials: Wilhelm (Biology I)

with 8 EU partners

VDI (BMBF) “Artificial membranes for bioactive algae”: Wilhelm (Biology I) with

SIAB, the University of Bremen and the University of Karlsruhe as partners

BMBF “Determination of C/N, C/P and C/Si ratios in phytoplankton cells by means of

FT-IR spectroscopy”: Wilhelm (Biology I) together with the Fraunhofer Institute

Stuttgart and the Federal Institute of Hydrology, Koblenz

BMBF „IMAS – Real-time impedance spectroscopy for functional screening of

organotypic cultures (RISP), Robitzki (Biochemistry)

TRR 67: Schulz-Siegmund (Pharmacy), Beck-Sickinger (Biochemistry)

CRC 610: Hofmann, Robitzki, Beck-Sickinger (coordinator, Biochemistry)

GK InterNeuro: Robitzki (Biochemistry) FOR 630: Beck-Sickinger (Biochemistry)

KFO 152: Beck-Sickinger (Biochemistry)

BuildMoNa: Robitzki, Beck-Sickinger (Biochemistry)

SPP 1319: Boll (coordinator, Biochemistry)

EU: Cardioworkbench: Robitzki (Biochemistry)

GIPIO: Beck-Sickinger (Biochemistry)

COST 868: Zimmermann (Biochemistry)

BMWi-InnoNet: Robitzki (Biochemistry)

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Selected Publications

Irfan U. Khan, Denise Zwanziger, Ilka Böhme, Muhammad Javed, Hamid Naseer, Syed W.

Hyder, Annette G. Beck-Sickinger (2010), Breast cancer diagnosis by neuropeptide Y

analogues - first clinical approach, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 49, 1155-1158.

Schmidt M, El-Dahshan A, Keller S, Rademann J. Selective identification of cooperatively

binding fragments in a high-throughput assay enables development of a picomolar caspase-

3 inhibitor, Angew. Chem. 2009, 121, 6464-6467.

Langner U, Jakob T, Stehfest K, Wilhelm C. A complete energy balance for Chlamydomonas

reinhardtii and Chlamydomonas acidophila under neutral and extremely acidic growth

conditions. Plant Cell Environm 32, 250-258, 2009.

Hacker M, Ringhofer M, Appel B, Neubauer M, Vogel T, Young S, Mikos AG, Blunk T,

Gopferich A, Schulz MB (2007), Solid lipid templating of macroporous tissue engineering

scaffolds. Biomaterials 28, 3497-3507.

Jahnke H-G, Rothermel A, Sternberger I, Mack TGA, Kurz RG, Pänke O, Striggow F,

Robitzki AA. An impedimetric microelectrode-based array sensor for label-free detection

of tau hyperphosphorylation in human cells. Lab-On-Chip, 2009; 9, 1422-1428.

Krinke D, Jahnke H-G, Pänke O, Robitzki AA. A microelectrode-based sensor for label-free

in vitro detection of ischemic effects on cardiomyocytes. Biosens Bioelec 2009; 24, 2798-

2803.

Michael S, Warstadt C, Michel F, Yan L, Müller CE, Nieber K. Adenosine A2A agonist and

A2B antagonist mediate an inhibition of inflammation-induced contractile disturbance of a

rat gastrointestinal preparation. Purinergic Signalling 2009, DOI 10.10077s111302-009-

9174-y.

Research Outlook

This section presents selected research projects (active and in the planning stage) carried out

in the four above key areas.

Four innovative strategies for the development of new active agents are currently being

pursued: 1. systematic ligand-receptor interaction studies for peptides and proteins, 2.

fragment-based development of low-molecular agents, 3. isolation and testing of low-

molecular active agents from plant extracts, and 4. identification of new targets in disease-

relevant in vitro testing systems for therapeutic use. Suitable testing systems for all innovative

strategies are developed in parallel, some of them aiming at high-throughput screenings.

One focal point in the development of biological testing systems is the three-dimensional (3-

D) cell culture with the aim to create near-tissue testing and screening systems. These cell

culture systems make it possible to examine the complex cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions

in tissues which cannot be shown with classical mono-layer cell cultures. Innovative

biosensor systems are developed – in some cases in cooperation with the pharmaceutical

industry – through which the effects of active agents on cell and tissue cultures become easily

readable in high-throughput screenings. In addition to that, animal models exist for specific

questions arising in the testing of active agents.

26

A therapeutic use of rapidly metabolized active agents requires release systems which on the

one hand stabilize active agents and on the other hand are able to control the kinetics of their

release over days or months. Innovative polymer-based implants and cyclodextrins with

molecular identification characteristics are therefore of major importance for the third primary

research topic.

As regards biomaterial development, the focus is on cell adhesion on surfaces and interfaces.

Chemical and mechanical micro and nano structuring of material surfaces will be used for in

vitro and in vivo control of cell-biomaterial interaction. Pursuing regenerative medicine

approaches, biomaterials are converted into three-dimensional scaffolds which alone or in

combination with cells can be used as tissue replacement. Scaffolds whose surfaces are

decorated with matrix molecules, peptides and proteins serve as testing systems for three-

dimensional in vitro and in vivo studies on the efficacy of the bound molecules. Another

approach from this field is the cell-type specific positioning of cells on a chip in order to

allow the direct bioelectronic readout of the agents’ effects, e. g. on neuronal networks.

Another subject matter of the third primary research topic with its biotechnology focus is the

topic of biofuels and biomass refinement. This research area aims at process optimization for

a climate-neutral carbon supply and the low or zero-emission use of biomass waste.

The agent and drug-based topic is an integral part of the University of Leipzig's third top-level

research area (PbF 3). In this research area, close links have been established with the Centre

for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BBZ). Cooperation partners in Leipzig are furthermore

the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, the Faculty of Chemistry

and Mineralogy, the Translation Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), the Helmholtz

Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification

(IOM) and the Fraunhofer institute IZI.

Climate-neutral infrastructure

From an organizational point of view, this research topic aims to generate joint research

projects in the above fields, with a special focus on translation, strengthening innovation, and

industrial use.

In addition to that, the infrastructure for this core research topic is set to be created by

building a service and excellence centre for imaging and microscopy, namely through the

implementation of existing and future microscopy/imaging/monitoring systems on a joint

platform. Ideally, all equipment is pooled in one building, which is at the same time used as

training centre. After a start-up phase of three years, the service centre should be financially

independent.

Teaching Outlook

The transition of the relevant degree programmes in biology and biochemistry to the

Bachelor/Master system has been completed and the programmes now offer modern and

attractive training modules with a focus on specific training for junior researchers in this

particular primary research field. The Pharmacy degree programme is currently being

modularized. A Master’s degree programme offering specialization in the field of industry-

relevant questions is planned to be introduced in cooperation with the pharmaceutical

industry. The new focus of the Biochemistry Master’s programme fits very well into the third

primary research topic.

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Primary Research Topic 4: Psychological and Neurobiological Bases of Cognitive Processes

28

The fourth primary research topic looks at phenomena of our experience and behaviour,

taking into account phylogenetic, ontogenetic, situation and individual variables. The main

focus in this regard is on selective, communicative and evaluative aspects of human

information processing. The research guidelines here are the prospects of the information

processing processes which this phenomenon is based on and which are examined with neuro-

biological, experimental psychological and socio-scientific methods. In the scope of Leipzig

University's constructive profiling efforts, the faculty's fourth primary research topic is

designed as an integral part of its fourth top-level research area, “Brain, Cognition and

Language”. Four research areas are explored in the scope of this primary research topic.

Close links and in some cases already established successful research alliances exist with the

Faculty of Medicine (Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, Carl-Ludwig Institute for

Psychology, Neurology and Neurosurgery Clinic, among others), with the Faculty of Sports

Science and the Faculty of Philology (Institute of Linguistics). Non-academic cooperation

partners in Leipzig include different departments at the MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain

Sciences, the MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology and the MPI for Mathematics in the

Sciences.

Area 1: Perception

Perception allows the interaction between an individual and its surroundings (incl. other

individuals). We explore processes underlying perception within and between different

perceptual modalities (vision, hearing, tactile perception) by means of state-of-the-art neuro-

scientific methods like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and multi-channel

electroencephalography (EEG) as well as with traditional psychological experiments.

Neurobiological research with animal models including single-unit recording and

measurements of local field potentials, both in vivo and in vitro, is also conducted. In addition

to these neurocognitive questions, the focus in this area of research is also on perceptive

processes in the scope of social information processing, for instance in school or work-related

interaction contexts.

Area 2: Neuronal Signal Processing

After the concept of neuronal networks as basic architecture for neuronal processing in the

brain has become established, new challenges arise regarding the analysis of neuronal

macroscopic signals as measured in the EEG and MEG. For that reason, the development of

new analysis procedures is an important part of methodology development. The objective is

the extraction of oscillatory neuronal responses and the validation of their compatibility with

classical evoked potentials and procedures for the calculation of the functional connectivity

between brain areas. New procedures will make it possible to localize the sources of surface

electrical signals directly in the frequency area. By recording both pre-and postsynaptic

activity of identified neurons characterized by function, the animal model looks at the

significance of the convergence of excitatory input as well as the interaction of excitatory and

inhibitory input for the dynamics of time and the security of synaptic transmission at the

individual level.

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Area 3: Emotion

Emotions play an important role in facilitating adaptive behaviour and in securing the survival

of a species. In addition to controlling the approach and avoidance behaviour, emotions also

constitute acts of communication and influence different aspects of social information

processing. One focus of the research work is on the exploration of basic processing

mechanisms for emotional stimuli in the human brain. We do not only look at the neuronal

mechanisms of cortical processing but also on processing control through limbic structures

(amygdale). Another special characteristic of our research work is the exploration of the

interaction of cognitive and affective information processing processes regarding their actual-

genetic and development psychological importance. The focus in this field of research is not

only on questions of emotion regulation over the life span of an individual, but also on

emotional burdens like stress at work. The resulting findings are then used in application-

oriented fields like specific training programmes for violence prevention.

Area 4: Communication

Language is a unique human communication system. In the field of speech production

research we take special interest in how a pre-linguistic communicative intention is

transformed into linguistic representation. We are looking into retrieval processes of words

from the mental lexicon and the principles according to which syntactical and phonological

structures are built. However, communication also plays a major role in social interaction.

Cognitive information processing processes are also explored regarding their relevance for

learning, for work action and psychological disorders.

Cooperative Research Projects

DFG Research Training Group 1182: “Function of Attention in Cognition” (grant

2005-2014; coordinator: Müller, Psychology I)

DFG Research Training Group 1097: “Interdisciplinary Approaches in Cellular

Neuroscience” (grant 2005-2014; co-coordinator: R. Rübsamen, Biology II)

Reinhart Koselleck Project: “Prediction in auditory information processing”

(Schröger, Psychology I)

DAAD – Indonesian Ministry of Education: “Psychological consequences of natural

disasters, development and evaluation of intervention programmes” (Witruk,

Psychology II)

BMBF and ESF: “Career advancement competence of women” (Mohr, Psychology II)

DFG “Gender-role self-concept's significance for salutogenesis” (Mohr, Psychology

II)

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Selected Publications

Andersen, S.K., Hillyard, S.A., Müller, M.M. (2008): Attention facilitates multiple stimulus

features in parallel in human visual cortex. Current Biology, 18, 1006-1009.

Englitz, B., Tolnai, S., Typlt, M., Kopp-Scheinpflug, C., Jost, J., Rübsamen, R. (2009)

Reliability of Signal Transmission at the Giant Synapses of Held in vivo. PLOS One, 4:e7014. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007014.

Jescheniak, J. D., Hahne, A., Hoffmann, S., & Wagner, V. (2006). Phonological activation of

category coordinates during speech planning is observable in children but not in adults:

Evidence for cascaded processing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning,

Memory, and Cognition, 32, 373-386.

Kunzmann, U. & Richter, D. (2009). Emotional reactivity across the adult life-span: The

cognitive pragmatics make a difference. Psychology and Aging, 24, 879-889.

Mohr, G., & Wolfram, H.-J. (2008). Leadership and effectiveness in the context of gender:

The role of leader's verbal behaviour. British Journal of Management, 19, 4-16.

Müller, M.M., Malinowski, P., Gruber, T., Hillyard, S.A. (2003): Sustained division of the

attentional spotlight. Nature, 424, 309-312.

Schröger, E., Bendixen, A., Trujillo-Barreto, N. J., & Roeber, U. (2007). Processing of

abstract rule violations in audition. Plos ONE, 2, e1131.

Sonntag, M., Englitz, B., Kopp-Scheinpflug, C., Rübsamen, R. (2009) Development of

spontaneous and acoustically evoked discharge activity in vivo of MNTB principal cells in

mice before and after hearing onset. J. Neuroscience, 29, 9510-9520.

Witruk, E. (2003). Training of working memory performance in dyslexics. Supplement I.

Psychology Science, 45, 23-34.

Research Outlook

The integrative aspect of the primary research topic will also come to bear in other research

projects. The aim is to apply for a larger joint research project in the short term. To that end, a

research group or a DFG primary research topic programme has been considered. The above-

mentioned academic and non-academic cooperation partners should be involved to a

considerable extent. In the application-oriented subjects, we are planning on applying for EU

research grants for international research associations. European networks with other high-

ranking international research institutions working in the same research fields should also be

formed or enhanced.

Teaching Outlook

The primary short-term objective is to create a Master's degree programme in Psychology as

from the 2010/2011 winter semester and to test the project-related programme implemented in

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this degree programme. According to the specifications by the German Psychological Society,

no specialization will be offered for the Psychology degree programme as a further

specialization would impair the students’ mobility. As regards the international and

interdisciplinary Master’s degrees, the situation looks different, however. In order to be able

to offer attractive and competitive degree courses with an interdisciplinary programme, an

international Master’s degree course "Being human: from neurocellular substrates to

evolution of cognition” is planned to be launched in the medium term. Modules of this

Master’s degree programme will be designed and offered by the Max-Planck institutes CBS

and EVA, by the Faculty of Medicine and our own faculty. As another pillar of the post-

gradual training programmes, an international Master’s degree programme “Affective and

Cognitive Psychology” will be introduced in the long term to enhance Leipzig's attractiveness

as a teaching institution.