Research Activities at the Faculty

Reports of the Institutes and Departments

Research Activities at the Faculty

The Institute of Biochemistry

Outstanding results of our scientific work are:

• the development of a novel bioorganic approach to the synthesis of non-peptidic carboxylic acid amides;
• the demystification of the catalytic mechanism of substrate mimetics-mediated reactions;
• the design of the first artificial substrate mimetics-specific peptide ligase; and
• its use for catalysing selective modifications of peptides and proteins.

The Hahn group succeeded in establishing a preparation method for RNase A and RNase T1 presenting phages without any contaminating E. coli (host) RNases. Furthermore a moenomycin-specific aptamer was selected. RNase T1 activity at low concentrations and the dissociation constants of a moenomycin/aptamer complex were determined via fluorescence–correlation spectroscopy (FCS).

The Kleber group showed that two proteins – CaiB and CaiD – are necessary for the biotransformation of crotonobetaine to L-carnitine in Escherichia coli. CaiB was indentified as CoA transferase. CaiD is able to hydrate enoyl-CoA compounds (e.g. crotonobetainyl-CoA).

The Institute of Botany

At the Department of General and Applied Botany (Prof. Dr. W. Reisser), the main research activities centred on the taxonomy and ecophysiology of aeroterrestrial algae with the main focus on applied aspects such as the application of aeroterrestrial algae to biomonitoring tasks.

A project studying the influence of algae, mosses and higher plants on the phytoavailability of pollutants in tailings was continued in co-operation with the UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig–Halle. Another project in co-operation with the UFZ on aerophytic algae as bioindicators of airborne pollutants was completed.

Co-operation with Tetra Inc. (Melle) was continued in order to develop natural methods for reducing algal growth in fish basins.

A project on the risk assessment of transgenic rape (funded by the Saxon Ministry of Science, Learning and Arts) in co-operation with the Department of Special Zoology (Prof. Schlegel) was concluded.

At the Department of Plant Physiology (Prof. Dr. C. Wilhelm), the main scientific focus is on the molecular organisation of photosynthetic pigments. Of special interest is the problem of how pigments can change between the two contrasting functions of light harvesting and photoprotection (DFG project).

A project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) deals with new tools to screen stress tolerance in higher plants. The aim of the study is to test thermoluminescence as an approach to differentiating between different stress factors such as UV-B radiation, herbicides and ozone.

In co-operation with the UFZ and the State Environmental Agency (Staatliches Umweltfachamt Leipzig), the phytoplankton assemblages of local waters are being analysed – not only to assess water quality but also to correlate the spectral features of suspended matter in water bodies detected from the air. The aim of the study is to develop remote sensing information technologies for water quality surveillance.

In co-operation with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Szeged and Tihany, Balaton), the basic physiological processes determining phytoplankton growth are being studied in situ to set up new information systems for forecasting water quality. A new project is being prepared to develop new tools enabling the ecological status of freshwaters to be assessed in accordance with the new European Water Framework Directive.

At the Department of Systematic Botany and Botanical Garden (Prof. Dr. W. Morawetz), research was mainly focused on tropical ecology in South America and on the systematics of tropical woody plants and primitive angiosperms (especially genus Guatteria, Annonaceae). The "Surumoni project" (canopy crane site in a lowland rainforest of southern Venezuela) was continued and the data is still being analysed on. The basic question of the project is: How does the rainforest function? The studies comprise among others phenology, reproductive ecology and animal–plant interactions. The field studies were accompanied by computer simulation models and phytogeographic analyses providing the theoretical background.

Regional research in northwest Saxony concentrated on phytosociological studies, biodiversity, ecology and the distribution of seed plants and fungi.

The associated Botanical Garden was recently reconstructed and the plant collections systematically enlarged. Particularly noteworthy and of importance for research are the collections of tropical woody plants, ant plants, palms (Arecaceae) and Berberidaceae.

The Department of Didactics of Biology (Prof. Dr. K.-G. Gehlhaar) continued a project supported by the DFG with the analysis of a retrospective inquiry based on the evaluation of results of a longitudinal study over three years with more than 1,000 test persons, all pupils of the two main types of secondary schools in Leipzig (Mittelschule, Gymnasium).

Some of the findings could be generalised, such as trends in the development of interests in biology (analysed from various angles such as the age and sex of the test persons and of the various content of biology) as well as incentives and other factors of stimulation for this mentioned development.

Furthermore, other research work concentrated on studying the causes of the different interests. Using partially standardised personal interviews, pupils who had already taken part in the longitudinal study were asked in detail about their interests. The first results are now available.

The Institute of Pharmacy

The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Institute of Pharmacy focuses on syntheses with respect to structure–activity relationships (Eger, Gütschow, Leistner, Briel) as well as the quality control of pharmaceutical substances.

Two projects by Professor Eger's group are part of the Centre of Excellence "Chemical Signal and Biological Answer", which started in 1996.

These projects include the search for nontoxic and easily available inhibitors of protein phosphatases, as well as adenosine receptor antagonists.

The latter project includes the preparative transformation of in vitro active antagonists into those with improved bioavailability. Meanwhile, we succeeded in synthesising A1 and A3 antagonists of adenosinreceptors with high affinity.

Another project is part of the Graduate College "Mechanisms and Applications of Non-conventional Oxidation Reactions".

Investigations are directed towards reactions of the oxidative metabolism, the synthesis of plant components (e.g. hypericine, fagopyrine) using oxidative reactions, as well as the isolation and structural elucidation of such natural products.

Drug metabolites are being prepared for usage as reference compounds for analytical purpose and haptenes.

The project with thalidomide and metabolites was continued, focusing on derivatives with stable heterocycles instead of the glutarimid ring (Eger, Hecker, Gütschow).

Analytical investigations are focused on the quality assurance of drugs, e.g. on the identification of impurities resulting from preparative procedures. Several drugs were investigated and impurities separated, characterised spectroscopically, and synthesised by independent routes (Professor Eger's group).

Work was additionally supported by the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the German Institute for Medicaments and Medicine Products (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte).

In the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Professor Süß's group) the optimisation of solid oral dosage forms with controlled or modified drug release as well as the development and structural investigation of the required excipients and intermediate products, particularly by applying the sol-gel technique, are of special interest.

Research concerning the curing of coated dosage forms as well as the development of multiparticulate systems for oral use was continued. Additional research focuses on the stability, incompatibilities and quality management of drug dosage forms.

Regarding Biopharmaceutics (Professor Leopold's group), novel oral dosage forms for colon-specific drug delivery are being developed and physicochemical interactions between coating polymers and core components with their potential use are being investigated in the modification of drug release. Furthermore, the quantification and optimisation of percutaneous drug penetration and the development of ophthalmic drug delivery systems for the inner eye are of special interest.

The main research interests of the Department of Pharmacology for Natural Sciences (Professor Dr. Karen Nieber) focus on the area of electrophysiological investigations (intracellular recordings, patch-clamp setup, Ca2+ imaging) on cortical pyramidal cells and microvascular endothelial cells from the retina and choroidea. The topics of research include the action of immunomodulators and nucleoside analogues on hypoxia-induced changes in the cell membrane. These studies (in co-operation with the Institute of Anatomy) are partly supported by the IZKF (Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research). Another project focuses on the neuroprotective role of adenosine, especially the A1 and A3 receptor-mediated effects on rat cortical neurons. We characterised the A3 receptor pharmacologically on these neurons and established a test model for new receptor ligands. This work (in co-operation with K. Eger's group) is part of the research project "Adenosine A3 Receptor Antagonists for the Treatment of Allergic Diseases such as Rhinoconjunctivitis and Asthma". Furthermore, electrophysiological investigations were carried out on human monocytes to study the effect of novel PDE4 inhibitors on intracellular signalling pathways. This work is part of the project "New PDE-4 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Allergic Diseases". The two projects are co-ordinated by the Arzneimittelwerk Dresden (AWD) and supported by the Saxon Development Bank. In co-operation with the Poison Information Centre (Erfurt) we analysed inquires from pharmacists and developed new strategies for pharmaceutical training.

The Institute of Zoology

Research at the Institute of Zoology covers a wide range of topics including cell biology, immunobiology, neurobiology, systematics and ecology.

The Department of Animal Physiology (Prof. Dr. K. Drössler) and the Department of Immunobiology (Prof. Dr. S. Hauschildt) are engaged in the production of monoclonal antibodies for a variety of antigens (virulent factors in fish, vitellin-antibodies in chicken, and moenomycin in mice). In addition, ally research deals with basic questions of cell biology, e.g. mechanisms of apoptosis, the function of neuropeptides in myeloid cells, the activation of human macrophages, and signal transduction in human monocytes.

At the Department of Systematics (Prof. Dr. M. Schlegel), the genealogical relationship between groups of animals (e.g. Myxozoa, Hemichrodata, Isopoda) is investigated using advanced methods from molecular biology. Another line of research is the geneflux analysis in natural populations of molluscs and coleoptera.

Research at the Department of Neurobiology (Prof. Dr. R. Rübsamen) and the Department of General Zoology and Behavioural Physiology (Prof. Dr. K. Schildberger) focuses on mechanisms of information processing in the central nervous system. By applying a broad variety of neurobiological methods, the central nervous processing of temporal information is studied at different time scales. The systems studied are the central auditory system of insects and mammals, and the circadian system of molluscs.

The Department of Developmental Neurobiology (Prof. Dr. W. Naumann) investigates the development and function of radial glia cells in the nervous systems of vertebrates and various invertebrates.

All departments of the Zoological Institute are actively involved in many regional, national and international scientific co-operation projects, including with UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig–Halle, SIAB Saxon Institute of Applied Biotechnology), the DFG priority programme "Functional and Adaptive Mechanisms of Circadian Systems" and "ZIZAS" ("Time-related Information Processing in the Central Auditory System").

Department of Microbiology and Genetics

The research programme of the Department of Genetics (Prof. Dr. H. Sass) addresses specific questions of gene regulation, chromatin structure and developmental neurobiology. Most of its work utilises the fruit fly Drosophila as a model organism.

One long-term goal of the laboratory is to understand the molecular basis of the structural and functional conservation of chromatin genes in arthropods (Krauss and Sass). The expression state of a gene is influenced by its chromosomal position. The approach we have taken to gain insights into the nature of molecular evolution for chromatin genes and interacting proteins is that compact DNA is based on the phenomenon of position effect variegation (PEV). We are using a combination of genetic analyses and molecular approaches to address these topics. Our studies on KLETT and SU(VAR)3-9 should provide insights into the molecular evolution of genes which modulate the structure of chromatin and the expression rate of genes. Using polytene chromosomes and recombinant DNA technology as well as transgenic Drosophila, we intend to decipher the function of the klett gene. KLETT seems to participate in the inclusion of RNA molecules in chromatin domains.

A second area of investigation in our laboratory is the function of the Drosophila synapsin gene. In addition, we try to create transgenic fruit flies to express human genes linked to Alzheimer's disease. Experiments to establish a neurodegenerative disease model in Drosophila are underway (Klagges and Sass).

The Department of Microbiology (Dr. H. Tauchert) focuses on the degradation of alkanes by Pseudomonas putida, especially the characterisation of the membrane-bound PQQ-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. Further investigations centre on elucidating the genetic basis of phage-resistance developed by cyanobacteria of the genus Synachococcus (Tauchert and Andreas).

Institute of General (Experimental) Psychology

Within the field of visual information processing, the Department of General Psychology I (Prof. Dr. H.-G. Geißler) investigated the perception of motion and memory search involving the comparison of structured objects. This work demonstrated the special role of ultrafine time-structures in motion perception. Within the area of acoustic processing, experiments were carried out examining the detection of periodicities in white noise. Prof. Geißler retired in January 2000.

At the Department of General Psychology II (Prof. Dr. H. Müller), research was carried out concerning the attentional modulation of input processes into visual working memory, the importance of synchronous 40 Hz oscillation for figural binding processes, and the role of "inhibition of return" of attentions in serial visual search. In autumn 2000, Prof. Müller accepted an offer to head the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University Munich.

At the Department of Biological Psychology (Prof. Dr. E. Schröger), studies were carried out into auditory and audio-visual information processing in connection with interlinked issues in the areas of perception, memory and attention.

At the Department of Methods of Psychology (Doz. Dr. E. Sommerfeld), a procedure was further refined for measuring changes in mental effort in elementary cognitive processes.

At the Department of the History of Psychology (Dr. A. Meischner-Metge), further work evaluating the unpublished writings of G. T. Fechner was carried out.

At the Department of Cognitive Social Psychology (Prof. Dr. G. von Collani), research was carried out into the following areas: the measurement and validation of sociopsychological personality constructs; biasing of eye witness testimonies, hindsight bias; models of attitude behaviour; relationship; measuring implicit attitudes using; reaction-time procedures.

Research at the Institute was supported by a number of DFG project grants. Several of these projects were carried out within the framework of the DFG Research Group "Working Memory Processes" and under the DFG Priority Programme "Temporal Information Processing in the Central Auditory System". The Institute is equipped with modern laboratories for eye movement and EEG recoding, as well as other special laboratories. The research activities of the various teams are closely interconnected. Numerous co-operation agreements exist with other national and international research laboratories, particularly the Max Planck Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in Leipzig. Members of the Institute were responsible for organising several national and international conferences.

Institute of Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Personality and Psychodiagnostics

At the Department of Developmental Psychology (Prof. Dr. K.-U. Ettrich), the following research projects were pursued in 2000:

• Interdisciplinary long-term study of adulthood and ageing (ILSE) (in co-operation with the Universities of Heidelberg, Bonn, Erlangen–Nuremberg and Rostock; this project was supported by a grant from the German Ministry of Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth as well as the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts of Baden-Württemberg)
• Changes of the physical and mental state of health in middle and advanced adulthood and consequences for health policy (sponsored by SMS Saxony)
• Inventory of honorary activities in the older generation as a social resource in relation to health and well-being (sponsored by SMS Saxony)
• Interdisciplinary research project: Attachment Disorder in Childhood and Adolescence – Risk and Protection Factors of Pathological Attachment Development in Childhood and Adolescence under the Aspect of Prevention
• Health promotion in early childhood
• Analysis of frequency and complexity of stimuli on the concentration in preschool and elementary school
• Experiencing stress and its physiological correlations (co-operation between Developmental Psychology and Youth Psychiatry)
• Development of identity, autonomy, and achievement behaviour in relation to varied conditions of socialisation (DFG project: "Childhood and Youth in Germany Before and After Unification")

At the Department of Personality Psychology and Psychological Intervention (Prof. Dr. H. Petermann), the following research projects were pursued in 2000:

• Evaluation of drug prevention programmes in schools (sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) and the Public Health Research Group of Saxony
• Addiction prevention in Saxony – an examination of existing programmes (sponsored by SMS Saxony)
• Evaluation of the Youth Support Programme "Growing Up" run by Lions-Quest in Leipzig schools (sponsored by Lions-Quest International)
• Methodological possibilities for judging the reliability of patients' self statements in drug prevention
• Determinants and correlations of risk-taking behaviour in youth

The Department of Differential Psychology and Psychodiagnostics (Prof. Dr. J. Guthke) pursued the following research projects in 2000:

• Construct validation of learning tests as an alternative to traditional intelligence –status tests. These deal mostly with computer-assisted adaptive diagnostic programmes for children, youth and adults.
• Research into the relationship between working memory and the ability of logical thinking in students, youth with learning disabilities, and the elderly (>65).
• Development and evaluation of a cognitive training programme for patients in rehabilitation centres (e.g. after a stroke)
• Checking the prognosis validity of a newly developed computer learning test battery in comparison with the standard "employment office" test in the Youth Job Program in Germany (in co-operation with the Federal Office of Employment in Nuremberg)
• Development and evaluation of a diagnostic process to determine the tendency towards aggressive driving behaviour (in co-operation with TÜV)
• Methodological investigation of the usefulness of graphological analysis
• Testing the validity of new diagnostic procedures by slum children in Brazil

The Institute of Applied Psychology

Research by the Department of Industrial- and Organisational Psychology (Prof. Dr. G. Mohr) on the willingness to change occupations among low-qualified workers included the development of an instrument to measure self-efficacy expectancy, as well as the translation and testing of an English scale dealing with this topic. Research in 13 companies provided the basic data for an analysis of the conditions favourable for willingness to change.

At the Department of Educational Psychology (Prof. Dr. E. Witruk), one highlight of research was collaboration with the Department of Education of the Chinese University in Hong Kong (Prof. Ho) on the topic of development dyslexia. The results were presented at an international conference and are being prepared for publication. The conclusion of work and the publication of the results of the European Union research project "IMAGINE – Integrated Multimedia Applications Generating Innovative Networks in European Digital Towns" should also be mentioned, involving research teams from Italy, France, Stuttgart and Leipzig. International research collaboration was also developed with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Prof. Dr. Sautman) on the topic "Ethnic Relations in Hong Kong" and the University of Tasmania (Prof. Dr. Slaghuis) on "Culture Comparisons of Visual Functions in Dyslexic Individuals".

At the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology (Prof. Dr. H. Schröder), specific stages of research dealing with drug prevention, coping with stress and medical rehabilitation were concluded in the form of conferences and publications. The next phases of these projects were subsequently prepared. The programmes on the psychosocial treatment of stage-fright, stress regulation, and coping with death and dying were made more effective and adapted to new target groups (e.g. rehabilitation patients and nurses).