Marina Rodnina

Marina Rodnina is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Physical Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. She leads a research group dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein synthesis, with a focus on ribosome function, translation fidelity, and dynamics. Her work bridges biochemistry, structural biology, and biophysics to dissect the ribosome as a molecular machine.

Her research interests center on ribosome function and dynamics, regulation and fidelity of translation, and ribosome-catalyzed reactions. She investigates how the ribosome selects aminoacyl-tRNAs with high accuracy, how GTPase factors like EF-Tu and EF-G are activated, and how translocation occurs during elongation. Her lab employs kinetic, biophysical, and structural approaches to study co-translational folding, frameshifting, and antibiotic interactions with the translational apparatus. The ribosome serves as a model system for understanding large macromolecular assemblies, with implications for biotechnology and antimicrobial development.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on the dynamic and functional aspects of the ribosome, particularly in tRNA selection, translocation, and co-translational processes. Her work frequently combines real-time kinetic measurements with structural data to uncover mechanistic insights into translation. The recurring themes include molecular motion, energy transduction, fidelity control, and the role of RNA in catalysis.

• Member of EMBO (2004)
• Member of Leopoldina (2008)
• Hans Neurath Award (2015)
• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2016)
• ERC Advanced Grant (2018)
• Otto Warburg Medal (2019)
• Elected to the National Academy of Sciences (2022)

Marina Rodnina has secured major research grants, including an ERC Advanced Grant, supporting her innovative work on ribosome mechanisms. She mentors a research team and collaborates extensively within the Göttingen research community, including affiliations with IMPRS and GZMB graduate programs. Her lab develops sophisticated biochemical and biophysical methodologies to study translation at the molecular level. She leads a multidisciplinary team investigating fundamental questions in gene expression and protein synthesis.

The Department of Physical Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute hosts several project groups, including those led by Niels Fischer, Wolfgang Wintermeyer, and Ingo Wohlgemuth, indicating a collaborative and team-based research environment. The group utilizes advanced technical equipment for kinetic analysis, structural studies, and molecular biology, supporting high-impact research in translation mechanisms.