Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences

Ficner, Ralf, Prof. Dr.

Professor of Structural Biology


  • Dr. rer. nat. (1992) and Postdoc (1993), Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried
  • Postdoctoral fellow, EMBL Heidelberg, 1994 -1996
  • Junior Group Leader, University of Marburg, 1997-2000
  • Appointed 2001 as Head of the Department of Molecular Structural Biology at the University of Göttingen



Major Research Interests

The aim of all research activities in the Department of Molecular Structural Biology at the University Göttingen is to understand the relation between the three-dimensional structure of a biological macromolecule (such as a protein, or a protein-RNA complex) and its cellular function. In order to achieve this goal we use different complementary methods, with a strong focus on the structure determination by means of X-ray crystallography. Other methods like single particle cryo electron microscopy, SAXS, and NMR spectroscopy have been applied in close collaboration with experts in the respective method. Our current research projects concern the structure and function of protein-RNA complexes involved in the post-transcriptional RNA processing (e.g. RNA modification, pre-mRNA splicing), and the nucleocytoplasmic transport of ribonucleoprotein complexes. In total, we have determined more than 230 structures of proteins and protein – nucleic acid complexes by means of X-ray crystallography or single particle cryo electron microscopy (currently 231 released PDB entries, and several unreleased entries).


Homepage Department/Research Group

http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/130115.html



Selected Recent Publications


  • Sievers K, Neumann P, Sušac L, Da Vela S, Graewert M, Trowitzsch S, Svergun D, Tampé R, Ficner R. (2024) Structural and functional insights into tRNA recognition by human tRNA guanine transglycosylase. Structure 32(3), 316-327
  • Enders M, Ficner R, Adio S (2023) Conformational dynamics of the RNA binding channel regulates loading and translocation of the DEAH-box helicase Prp43. Nucleic Acids Res 51(12), 6430-6442
  • Enders M, Ficner R, Adio S (2022) Regulation of the DEAH/RHA helicase Prp43 by the G-patch factor Pfa1. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 119(48), e22035671
  • Hamann F, Schmitt A, Favretto F, Hofele R, Neumann P, Xiang S, Urlaub H, Zweckstetter M, Ficner R (2020) Structural analysis of the intrinsically disordered splicing factor Spp2 and its binding to the DEAH-box ATPase Prp2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117(6), 2948-2956
  • Hamann F, Enders M, Ficner R (2019) Structural basis for RNA translocation by DEAH-box ATPases. Nucleic Acids Res 47(8), 4349-4362
  • Monecke T, Haselbach D, Voss B, Russek A, Neumann P, Thomson E, Hurt E, Zachariae U, Stark H, Grubmüller H, Dickmanns A, Ficner R (2013) Structural basis for cooperativity of CRM1 export complex formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110, 960-965
  • Khoshnevis S, Hauer F, Milon P, Stark H, Ficner R (2012) Novel insights into the architecture and protein interaction network of yeast eIF3. RNA 18, 2306-2319
  • Lehwess-Litzmann A, Neumann P, Parthier C, Lüdtke S, Golbik R, Ficner R, Tittmann K (2011) Twisted Schiff base intermediates and substrate locale revise transaldolase mechanism. Nat Chem Biol 7(10), 678-684
  • Güttler T, Madl T, Neumann P, Deichsel D, Corsini L, Monecke T, Ficner R, Sattler M, Gorlich D (2010) NES consensus redefined by structures of PKI-type and Rev-type nuclear export signals bound to CRM1. Nature Struct Mol Biol 17, 1367-1376
  • Schulz E-C, Dickmanns A, Urlaub H, Schmitt A, Mühlenhoff M, Stummeyer K, Schwarzer D, Gerardy-Schahn R, Ficner R (2010) Crystal structure of a novel intramolecular chaperone mediating triple ß-helix folding.Nature Struct Mol Biol 17: 210-215
  • Monecke T, Güttler T, Neumann P, Dickmanns A, Görlich D, Ficner R (2009) Crystal structure of the nuclear export receptor CRM1 in complex with Snurportin1 and RanGTP. Science 324(5930):1087-91
  • Monecke T, Dickmanns A, Ficner R (2009) Structural basis for m7G-cap hypermethylation of small nuclear, small nucleolar and telomerase RNA by the dimethyltransferase TGS1. Nucleic Acids Res 37(12):3865-77
  • Ficner R (2009) Novel structural insights into class I and II histone deacetylases. Curr Top Med Chem 9(3):235-40
  • Wohlwend D, Strasser A, Dickmanns A, Ficner R (2007) Structural basis for RanGTP independent entry of spliceosomal U snRNPs into the nucleus. J Mol Biol 374(4):1129-38
  • Wohlwend D, Strasser A, Dickmanns A, Doenecke D, Ficner R (2007) Thermodynamic analysis of H1 nuclear import: receptor tuning of importinbeta/importin7. J Biol Chem 282(14):10707-19
  • Strasser A, Dickmanns A, Lührmann R, Ficner R (2005) Structural basis for m3G-cap-mediated nuclear import of spliceosomal UsnRNPs by snurportin1. EMBO J 24: 2235-43
  • Dierks T, Dickmanns A, Preusser-Kunze A, Schmidt B, Mariappan M, von Figura K, Ficner R, Rudolph MG (2005) Molecular basis for multiple sulfatase deficiency and catalytic mechanism for formylglycine generation of the human formylglycine generating enzyme. Cell 121 541-552
  • Stummeyer K, Dickmanns A, Mühlenhoff M, Gerardy-Schahn R, Ficner R (2005) Crystal structure of endosialidase NF - the polysialic acid degrading tailspike of bacteriophage K1F. Nature Struct Mol Biol 12: 90-96