Membranes as Molecular Machines

Understanding living cells as mechanical and energetic machines is one of the most productive research hypotheses of the 20th century. It not only plays an important role in biotechnology and biocomputing, but also provides information on »active matter« concepts. A central element on the way to molecular machines is biochemical research on the cell membrane, which secures the flow of energy and information. In his current book Membranes to Molecular Machines, Mathias Grote reconstructs the stations of biochemical modeling of cell membranes as active surfaces up to the 1990s and thus provides the knowledge background that has prepared and conditioned current developments in nanotechnologies. At the workshop Mathias Grote presented the results of his historical study in a lecture. Jürgen Rabe then reported on his current research on non-biological membranes. Afterwards we discussed both presentations.

The workshop, jointly organized by the projects Filtering and Weaving, offered an opportunity to relate historical and current research on membranes and molecular machines to concepts of »active matter«.

The Workshop took place on January 10th, at 10.00 a.m.–2.00 p.m. in the Central Laboratory of »Matters of Activity«.