Lichtgedanken 02

Editorial 9 02 | LICHT GEDANKEN Molecular switchboards The aim of the research alliance of the universities in Jena and Würzburg is to systematically decipher the »receptome«, the total of all receptor molecules in an organism, and exploit it for the treatment of diseases. Levels of the global community Together with the University of Erfurt and further part- ners, the university alliance of Halle – Jena – Leipzig is submitting an application for a research cluster that analyzes the advancing intermeshing of cultures in the globalization process. Receptors are »molecular switches«. They consist of protein and their job is to control metabolic processes within and bet- ween the cells of an organism. This occurs through interac- tion with other molecules. Receptors are therefore mainly to be found like tiny antennae on cell surfaces where they interact with the right neurotransmitters. The »receptome« – the sum of all receptor molecules of an organism – makes up more than five percent of its protein. Due to their function, receptors are ideally suited as targets for a variety of therapeutic applications. The aim of the proposed research cluster »Enlightening the Receptome: From Biophy- sics to Clinical Applications« is to decipher the receptome in all its diversity and exploit it for the treatment of diseases. The cluster application has been submitted by the universities of Würzburg and Jena and their hospitals. Jena research groups from the Leibniz Institute on Aging – the Fritz Lipmann In- stitute (FLI) – and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ec- ology (MPICE) are also involved. Prof. Dr Markus Sauer (Uni- versity of Würzburg), Prof. Dr Klaus Benndorf (Photo, r.) and Prof. Dr Christian Hübner (l.), both from the Jena university hospital, are acting as spokespersons. With the research cluster, the scientists want to further ex- pand their successful collaboration from the Collaborative Research Centre, »Receptor Light: High-end light microscopy elucidates membrane receptor function«. »In the last few years, both of our facilities have already established themsel- ves as internationally recognized centres for high-resolution light microscopy,« Prof. Benndorf emphasizes. Basic research is to be extended on this basis even to the stage of developing approaches for clinical applications. »Achie- ving a better understanding of how receptors work, will lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, for example for tracing and combating tumour cells,« states Prof. Hübner with conviction. The research cluster applied for by the name of »Dialectics of the Global« is based on a paradox. While more and more people are included in the process of globalization, scep- ticism towards the globalized world is growing. »Techni- cal progress is leading to an ever closer intermeshing and intertwining of cultures,« says Prof. Dr Stefan Matuschek (photo). »As a result, individual, culture-specific norms are more and more flagrantly confronted with other, external norms culminating in the juxtaposition and opposition of different concepts of the world and world order that we want to examine in the cluster,« states the literary scholar who acts as a spokesperson for the FSU. The scientists want to explore the different cultural, legal, political and social levels of the global community. They will pool their expertise in European, American, East Asian, ori- ental and African cultures and languages to obtain a global cultural perspective. Besides the universities in Jena, Hal- le, Leipzig and Erfurt, the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology (Halle), the Leibniz Institutes for Regional Geography and the History and Culture of Eastern Europe in Leipzig as well as the Simon Dubnow Institute at the Uni- versity of Leipzig are also participating. Further spokesper- sons are Prof. Dr Matthias Middell (Leipzig) and Prof. Dr Yvonne Kleinmann (Halle). The consortium is building on the already existing »Forum for the Study of the Global Con- dition« organized by the university alliance of Halle – Jena – Leipzig. »The Strategy of Excellence is an additional catalyst for this process,« says Matuschek.