Characterization of the Self-Assembly Process of Hydrophobins at Interfaces and in Solution (B11*)

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189853844

This project aims at understanding the self-assembly process of a special class of small fungal proteins that are highly surface active and are called hydrophobins. Hydrophobins self-assemble into films composed of rodlets (fibrillar structures) or 2D crystalline sheets with interesting physico-chemical properties. The main goal of this project is to elucidate the self-assembly processes of hydrophobins at interfaces (mainly liquid/liquid and air/water interface) and their pre-assembly in solution mainly by applying methods of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, together with surface-sensitive infrared-reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS).

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 102: Polymers under Multiple Constraints: Restricted and Controlled Molecular Order and Mobility
• Applicant Institution: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Dariush Hinderberger, since 7/2015