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Hagn Lab

We work on biologically important systems, such as mitochondrial membrane proteins, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated G-proteins and metabolite transporters in plants. These membrane proteins are involved in metabolic diseases, neurological disorders and cancer, or supply energy to enable plant growth and the generation of biomass. Beside NMR, we use electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and a variety of other biophysical, biochemical and computational methods.

We work on biologically important systems, such as mitochondrial membrane proteins, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated G-proteins and metabolite transporters in plants. These membrane proteins are involved in metabolic diseases, neurological disorders and cancer, or supply energy to enable plant growth and the generation of biomass. Beside NMR, we use electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and a variety of other biophysical, biochemical and computational methods.

About us

Membrane proteins are essential for signal transduction and the transfer of proteins and small molecules across the biological membrane barrier and thus represent around 60% of current drug targets. We aim at characterizing the structure, dynamics, small molecule and partner protein interactions of selected membrane protein systems to obtain essential insights on their functionality and to facilitate rational drug design approaches.

Our main tool to achieve this goal is nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In order to be able to study membrane proteins in a native lipid environment we develop novel and advanced membrane mimetics, called phospholipid nanodiscs, for their use in biochemical, biophysical and structural studies. 

We work on biologically important systems, such as mitochondrial membrane proteins, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated G-proteins and metabolite transporters in plants. These membrane proteins are involved in metabolic diseases, neurological disorders and cancer, or supply energy to enable plant growth and the generation of biomass. Beside NMR, we use electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and a variety of other biophysical, biochemical and computational methods.

Group members

Franz Hagn
Prof. Dr. Franz Hagn

Research Group Leader

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Umut Günsel
Dr. Umut Günsel

Postdoc

Kira Leitl

PhD student

Mariam Mohamadi
Mariam Mohamadi

PhD student

Luisa Riechers
Luisa Riechers

PhD student

Marie Tran Portrait
Marie Tran

Technical assistant

Andrea Rundmann
Andrea Rundmann

Assistant to Prof. Hagn

Salvador Da Costa Macedo Magrinho

PhD student

Publications

Nat. Commun. 16:9481 (2025)

Daniilidis, M. ; Günsel, U. ; Broutzakis, G. ; Leitl, K.D. ; Janowski, R. ; Fredriksen, K. ; Niessing, D. ; Gatsogiannis, C. ; Hagn, F.

Structural basis of apoptosis induction by the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel.
Br. J. Pharmacol., DOI: 10.1111/bph.17314 (2024)

Kogut-Günthel, M.M. ; Zara, Z. ; Nicoli, A. ; Steuer, A. ; Lopez-Balastegui, M. ; Selent, J. ; Karanth, S. ; Koehler, M. ; Ciancetta, A. ; Abiko, L.A. ; Hagn, F. ; Di Pizio, A.

The path to the G protein-coupled receptor structural landscape: Major milestones and future directions.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 15403-15410 (2024)

Daniilidis, M. ; Sperl, L.E. ; Müller, B.S. ; Babl, A. ; Hagn, F.

Efficient segmental isotope labeling of integral membrane proteins for high-resolution NMR studies.
Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 30, 761-769 (2023)

Günsel, U. ; Klöpfer, K. ; Häusler, E. ; Hitzenberger, M. ; Bölter, B. ; Sperl, L.E. ; Zacharias, M. ; Soll, J. ; Hagn, F.

Structural basis of metabolite transport by the chloroplast outer envelope channel OEP21.

Hagn Lab Contact

Andrea Rundmann
Andrea Rundmann

Assistant to Prof. Hagn