معرفی
Dr Nils-Alexander Lakomek leads the Biophysical NMR Spectroscopy research group at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Institute of Physical Biology (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), and a parallel group at the Jülich Research Center (IBI-7 Structural Biochemistry). His laboratory develops and applies state-of-the-art solution and solid-state NMR techniques to study the structure and dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), membrane proteins, and SNARE complexes mediating neuronal exocytosis.
Education & Training:
- PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), 2008, University of Göttingen, Germany – thesis on “New methods in NMR spectroscopy for the study of protein dynamics”
Research Interests:
The Lakomek group focuses on three major themes:
- Structural protein dynamics of IDPs – understanding motions spanning picoseconds to milliseconds using sensitivity-enhanced NMR relaxation methods.
- Membrane interactions of IDPs – elucidating lipid-bound conformations and trans-membrane topologies with proton-detected solid-state NMR at fast magic-angle spinning.
- SNARE proteins in neuronal exocytosis – dissecting the role of membrane-associated IDPs such as SNAP25a and synaptobrevin-2 in neurotransmitter release.
Publication Trends:
Over the past six years the team has produced >20 peer-reviewed articles that combine methodological innovation (relaxation techniques, pulse-sequence development) with biological insight into viral proteins (SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease, HIV-1 gp41, HCV NS5A), plant receptors (ETR1), and neuronal SNARE machinery. The work appears in high-impact journals spanning PNAS, Science, Angewandte Chemie, Nature Methods family journals, and Chemical Reviews.
Scientific Awards & Recognition:
No specific awards or fellowships are listed in the provided material.
Advising & Funding:
Dr Lakomek currently mentors a vibrant team of graduate and undergraduate researchers. Active bachelor and master thesis projects are available in molecular biophysics and structural neurobiology, supported by institutional funds and external grants (details not disclosed in the text).
Laboratory & Collaborations:
He operates two closely linked laboratories: one at HHU Düsseldorf (Physical Biology, Building 26.44 U1-034) and one at Forschungszentrum Jülich (IBI-7, Building 05.8). Collaborative ties exist with Professors Henrike Heise, Georg Groth and others, enabling interdisciplinary projects across biology, physics and medicine.
