The overall research theme in our lab is the structural characterization of complex biological assemblies, their architecture, interactions with different ligands, and the regulation of their function. Of special interest for us are the structural basis of microtubule dynamics, and the assembly and regulation of the molecular machineries involved in transcriptional and translational initiation and on transcription-coupled DNA repair. We are using electron microscopy, image analysis, and functional biochemical and biophysical assays to gain new information on these systems and their cellular regulation.