Erich Sackmann
Encyclopedia
Erich Sackmann is an eminent experimental physicist.
He studied in the University of Stuttgart
and finished his degree in 1964. After working in Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J., USA and in Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie in Göttingen, in 1974 he became a Professor in Universität Ulm. In 1980, he shifted to the Technical University of Munich
as the head of the Biophysics chair - E22. To this day, he remains there as an emeritus professor.
Prof. Sackmann dedicated a lifetime of research towards probing the living cell with tools of physics, long before biophysics was the mode of the day. Considered by many the father of biophysics in Europe, he pioneered, along with others, the idea of a “bottom up” approach towards understanding the cell – starting from relatively simple systems like lipid bilayers, giant vesicles and actin in solution and going towards more and more complex systems to reach eventually an understanding at the level of the entire cell.
More than 200 publications and several books Literatur von und über Erich Sackmann testify to his contributions to soft matter
and biophysics
. His early work was mainly on lyotropic
liquid crystals and lipid membranes
. Later, along with his students he laid the foundations of our current understanding of membrane adhesion. Over the years, his team developed and improved the technique of reflection interference contrast microscopy - RICM, (which is quantitative interference reflection microscopy
- IRM) – a powerful tool to probe adhesion of membranes and thin films. Collaborations with theoreticians like Reinhard Lipowsky, Udo Seifert and Robijn Bruinsma
have led to seminal works on adhesion of cell mimetic giant vesicles (also called liposomes).
Another of his interests is the cytoskeleton
and its dynamics. To study cytoskeletal dynamics, his team developed magnetic tweezers
capable of exerting very small pulling forces. He has contributed to our understanding of the dynamics of single actin
filaments, actin
networks
as well as intact living cells.
His research interests include: physics of self assembly and function of artificial and biological membranes, viscoelastic microscopy
of cells, physics of the actin
based cytoskeleton
: micro-rheology
of macromolecular networks, applications of solid-supported lipid-protein membranes, ultrathin hydrated polymer
layers and polymer/membrane composite films and neutron
Reflectivity
as a new tool to study the self assembly of membrane associated proteins.
Along with Reinhard Lipowsky, he has authored "the Structure and Dynamics of Membranes". Recently, along with Rudolf Merkel, he has published "Lehrbuch der Biophysik" - a text book on biophysics aimed at students and reaserchers.
In recognition of his research work, in 2006, he was awarded the Stern-Gerlach-Medal
by the DPG, German Physical Society
.
He studied in the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
and finished his degree in 1964. After working in Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J., USA and in Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie in Göttingen, in 1974 he became a Professor in Universität Ulm. In 1980, he shifted to the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
as the head of the Biophysics chair - E22. To this day, he remains there as an emeritus professor.
Prof. Sackmann dedicated a lifetime of research towards probing the living cell with tools of physics, long before biophysics was the mode of the day. Considered by many the father of biophysics in Europe, he pioneered, along with others, the idea of a “bottom up” approach towards understanding the cell – starting from relatively simple systems like lipid bilayers, giant vesicles and actin in solution and going towards more and more complex systems to reach eventually an understanding at the level of the entire cell.
More than 200 publications and several books Literatur von und über Erich Sackmann testify to his contributions to soft matter
Soft matter
Soft matter is a subfield of condensed matter comprising a variety of physical states that are easily deformed by thermal stresses or thermal fluctuations. They include liquids, colloids, polymers, foams, gels, granular materials, and a number of biological materials...
and biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
. His early work was mainly on lyotropic
Lyotropic
A material is called lyotropic if it forms liquid crystal phases because of the addition of a solvent. Historically the term was used to describe materials composed of amphiphilic molecules. Such molecules comprise a water-loving 'hydrophilic' head-group attached to a water-hating 'hydrophobic'...
liquid crystals and lipid membranes
Biological membrane
A biological membrane or biomembrane is an enclosing or separatingmembrane that acts as a selective barrier, within or around a cell. It consists of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that may constitute close to 50% of membrane content...
. Later, along with his students he laid the foundations of our current understanding of membrane adhesion. Over the years, his team developed and improved the technique of reflection interference contrast microscopy - RICM, (which is quantitative interference reflection microscopy
Interference reflection microscopy
Interference reflection microscopy or IRM is an optical microscopy technique that utilizes polarized light to form an image of an object on a glass surface. The intensity of the signal is a measure of proximity of the object to the glass surface...
- IRM) – a powerful tool to probe adhesion of membranes and thin films. Collaborations with theoreticians like Reinhard Lipowsky, Udo Seifert and Robijn Bruinsma
Robijn Bruinsma
Robijn F. Bruinsma is a theoretical physicist and is Professor of Physics at the University of California at Los Angeles and Chair of the Department of Theoretical Physics for the Life Sciences at Leiden University. He is a specialist in the theory of condensed matter.He has a B.S...
have led to seminal works on adhesion of cell mimetic giant vesicles (also called liposomes).
Another of his interests is the cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...
and its dynamics. To study cytoskeletal dynamics, his team developed magnetic tweezers
Magnetic tweezers
A magnetic tweezer is a scientific instrument for exerting and measuring forces on magnetic particles using a magnetic field gradient. Typical applications are single-molecule micromanipulation, rheology of soft matter, and studies of force-regulated processes in living cells. Forces are typically...
capable of exerting very small pulling forces. He has contributed to our understanding of the dynamics of single actin
Actin
Actin is a globular, roughly 42-kDa moonlighting protein found in all eukaryotic cells where it may be present at concentrations of over 100 μM. It is also one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans...
filaments, actin
Actin
Actin is a globular, roughly 42-kDa moonlighting protein found in all eukaryotic cells where it may be present at concentrations of over 100 μM. It is also one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans...
networks
Neural network
The term neural network was traditionally used to refer to a network or circuit of biological neurons. The modern usage of the term often refers to artificial neural networks, which are composed of artificial neurons or nodes...
as well as intact living cells.
His research interests include: physics of self assembly and function of artificial and biological membranes, viscoelastic microscopy
Microscopy
Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye...
of cells, physics of the actin
Actin
Actin is a globular, roughly 42-kDa moonlighting protein found in all eukaryotic cells where it may be present at concentrations of over 100 μM. It is also one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans...
based cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...
: micro-rheology
Rheology
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in the liquid state, but also as 'soft solids' or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force....
of macromolecular networks, applications of solid-supported lipid-protein membranes, ultrathin hydrated polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
layers and polymer/membrane composite films and neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
Reflectivity
Reflectivity
In optics and photometry, reflectivity is the fraction of incident radiation reflected by a surface. In general it must be treated as a directional property that is a function of the reflected direction, the incident direction, and the incident wavelength...
as a new tool to study the self assembly of membrane associated proteins.
Along with Reinhard Lipowsky, he has authored "the Structure and Dynamics of Membranes". Recently, along with Rudolf Merkel, he has published "Lehrbuch der Biophysik" - a text book on biophysics aimed at students and reaserchers.
In recognition of his research work, in 2006, he was awarded the Stern-Gerlach-Medal
Stern-Gerlach-Medaille
The Stern–Gerlach Medal is the most prestigious German Award for experimental physicists, named after the scientists of the Stern–Gerlach experiment, Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach....
by the DPG, German Physical Society
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft is the world's largest organization of physicists. The DPG's worldwide membership is cited as 60,000, as of 2011...
.