Schanda Group

Biomolecular Mechanisms from Integrated NMR Spectroscopy

From the visible dance of living organisms to the invisible vibrations of atoms within molecules, movement is the essence of life. These microscopic interactions drive the processes that allow life to thrive.
The Schanda group focuses on unraveling how proteins—life’s molecular machines—perform their intricate tasks. At the heart of their research lies a fundamental question: How do the structural dynamics of proteins govern their functions? The team explores puzzling phenomena, such as how proteins transport other proteins across cellular environments. By studying their structure, movement, and interactions, they decode how cells manage to shuttle large, aggregation-prone polypeptides and refold them into their native states. They also investigate the motions that underlie enzyme function and allosteric regulation, and address fundamental physicochemical questions related to protein dynamics, such as the impact of the environment on motions. To tackle these questions, the Schanda group harnesses the power of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, pushing its boundaries and integrating it with biophysical, biochemical, in silico, and in vivo methods. Through this multidisciplinary approach, they aim to illuminate the dynamic foundations of life at the molecular level.