{{Short description|German physicist and academic}} {{Infobox person | name = Marc Baldus | image = <!-- just the filename, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing brackets --> | alt = | caption = | occupation = Professor of NMR spectroscopy | employer = Utrecht University | known_for = Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, Structural biology }}
'''Marc Baldus''' is a physicist and professor of NMR spectroscopy at Utrecht University. He is especially known for his work in the field of structural biology using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy. He applies ssNMR methods to establish structure-function relationships in complex biomolecular systems including membrane and Amyloid proteins. In addition, he develops cellular NMR methods to study large molecular transport and insertion systems in bacteria as well as signal transduction mechanisms in eukaryotic cells.
== Biography == Marc Baldus studied physics at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, after which he became a Diploma Student at the Department of Physics of University of Florida in Gainesville, USA. He obtained his PhD degree in 1996 from the ETH Zurich in Switzerland. After postdoctoral research at MIT and Leiden University he became group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen, Germany. In 2008 he became Full Professor of Structural Biology in the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research at Utrecht University in Utrecht.<ref name="UU profile page">{{cite web|title=prof. dr. M. (Marc) Baldus|url=http://www.uu.nl/medewerkers/MBaldus|publisher=Utrecht University|accessdate=2015-11-04}}</ref> From 2016 to 2019 he was scientific director of the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marc Baldus new scientific director of the Bijvoet Center|url=http://www.uu.nl/en/news/marc-baldus-new-scientific-director-of-the-bijvoet-center|publisher=Utrecht University|date=6 April 2016|accessdate=2016-04-06}}</ref>
== Research == Marc Baldus is an expert in the field of structural biology using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy. In addition, he develops cellular NMR methods for structural biology, such as Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) NMR spectroscopy and his research group at Utrecht University was the first group worldwide with a 527 GHz Solid State DNP-NMR spectrometer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/university-of-utrecht-orders-bruker-s-527-ghz-dnp-nmr-system-to-study-membrane-proteins/81244373/|title=University of Utrecht Orders Bruker's 527 GHz DNP-NMR System to Study Membrane Proteins|date=13 December 2010|publisher=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=36140|title=Bruker Announces Installation of 527 GHz Solid State DNP-NMR Spectrometer at University of Utrecht|date=21 March 2013|publisher=AZO Materials|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref> Baldus is also the coordinator of the uNMR-NL project, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) with 18.5M Euro, to establish a national infrastructure for ultra-high field NMR spectroscopy, a joined initiative between Utrecht University, the Radboud University Nijmegen, Wageningen University,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wageningenur.nl/nl/show/18.5-million-euro-for-largescale-NMR-research-facility.htm|title=18.5 million euro for large-scale NMR research facility|publisher=Wageningen University|date=2 March 2012|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref> Leiden University,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://macbio.lic.leidenuniv.nl/news/185-miljoen-euro-voor-grootschalige-nmr-onderzoeksfaciliteit|title=18.5 miljoen euro voor grootschalige NMR onderzoeksfaciliteit|language=NL|publisher=Leiden University|date=19 March 2012|accessdate=2016-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409105200/http://macbio.lic.leidenuniv.nl/news/185-miljoen-euro-voor-grootschalige-nmr-onderzoeksfaciliteit|archive-date=9 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eindhoven University of Technology and the Dutch public-private partnership COAST for the analytical sciences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.structuralbiology.eu/support/whats-on/news/utrecht-coordinates-collaboration-life-sciences-32-million-euro-two-large-0|title=Utrecht coordinates collaboration in life sciences: 32 million euro for two large-scale research facilities|publisher=Instruct|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref> The uNMR-NL facility was officially opened by Dutch Undersecretary for Education, Culture and Science, Sander Dekker on November 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://utrecht.nieuws.nl/onderwijswetenschap/49790/staatssecretaris-dekker-opent-unmr-nl/|language=NL|publisher=utrecht.nieuws.nl|date=4 November 2015|title=Staatssecretaris Dekker opent uNMR-NL-faciliteit|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uu.nl/en/news/state-secretary-dekker-opens-ultra-powerful-mri-for-molecules|publisher=Utrecht University|title=State Secretary Dekker opens ultra-powerful 'MRI' for molecules|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref>
The main focus of the research of Marc Baldus is the use of solid state NMR spectroscopy <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemTech/Volume/2009/04/identifying_powders.asp|title=Crystal clear method for identifying powders|date=26 February 2009|accessdate=2016-03-18|author=Philip Robinson|publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry}}</ref> to study the structure and dynamics of proteins and other biomolecules.<ref name="UU profile page"/> He has used the technology amongst others to study the behavior of bacterial proteins,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scinexx.de/wissen-aktuell-9364-2009-01-13.html|title=Wie Bakterien die Umwelt wahrnehmen |language=DE|publisher=scinexx.de|date=13 January 2009|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1878686/how_bacteria_make_syringes/|title=How Bacteria Make Syringes|publisher=redOrbit|date=14 June 2010|author=Sam Savage|accessdate=2016-03-18}}</ref> protein aggregation in Alzheimer's<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1021/ja7100517|pmid=18386894|title=Characterization of Alzheimer's-like Paired Helical Filaments from the Core Domain of Tau Protein Using Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy|journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society|volume=130|issue=18|pages=5922–8|year=2008|last1=Andronesi|first1=Ovidiu C.|last2=Bergen|first2=Martin von|last3=Biernat|first3=Jacek|last4=Seidel|first4=Karsten|last5=Griesinger|first5=Christian|last6=Mandelkow|first6=Eckhard|last7=Baldus|first7=Marc|bibcode=2008JAChS.130.5922A }}</ref> and Parkinson's<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1073/pnas.0506109102 |title=Molecular-level secondary structure, polymorphism, and dynamics of full-length -synuclein fibrils studied by solid-state NMR |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=102 |issue=44 |pages=15871–6 |year=2005 |last1=Heise |first1=H. |last2=Hoyer |first2=W. |last3=Becker |first3=S. |last4=Andronesi |first4=O. C. |last5=Riedel |first5=D. |last6=Baldus |first6=M. |pmid=16247008 |pmc=1276071|bibcode=2005PNAS..10215871H |doi-access=free }}</ref> disease, to study the effect of sugars on membrane behaviour,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwo.nl/actueel/nieuws/2015/cw/suikers-van-grote-invloed-op-membranen.html|publisher=NWO|language=NL|title=Suikers van grote invloed op membranen|accessdate=2015-11-04|date=26 January 2015}}</ref> for the analysis of membrane embedded proteins such as G-protein coupled receptors<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1073/pnas.1834523100|pmid=12960362|pmc=196868|title=The conformation of neurotensin bound to its G protein-coupled receptor|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=100|issue=19|pages=10706–11|year=2003|last1=Luca|first1=S.|last2=White|first2=J. F.|last3=Sohal|first3=A. K.|last4=Filippov|first4=D. V.|last5=Van Boom|first5=J. H.|last6=Grisshammer|first6=R.|last7=Baldus|first7=M.|bibcode=2003PNAS..10010706L |url=http://pubman.mpdl.mpg.de/pubman/item/escidoc:599080/component/escidoc:2213593/599080.pdf|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1038/nchembio.2567|pmid=29443979|title=GPCR: Lock and key become flexible|journal=Nature Chemical Biology|volume=14|issue=3|pages=201–202|year=2018|last1=Baldus|first1=Marc}}</ref> and ion channels<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1038/nature04649|pmid=16612389|title=Toxin-induced conformational changes in a potassium channel revealed by solid-state NMR|journal=Nature|volume=440|issue=7086|pages=959–62|year=2006|last1=Lange|first1=Adam|last2=Giller|first2=Karin|last3=Hornig|first3=Sönke|last4=Martin-Eauclaire|first4=Marie-France|last5=Pongs|first5=Olaf|last6=Becker|first6=Stefan|last7=Baldus|first7=Marc|bibcode=2006Natur.440..959L |s2cid=4429604}}</ref> and for the characterization of novel drug delivery systems.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/anie.201303374|title=Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR Spectroscopy: Revealing Multiple Conformations in Lipid-Anchored Peptide Vaccines|journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition|volume=52|issue=41|pages=10905–8|year=2013|last1=Koers|first1=Eline J.|last2=López-Deber|first2=Maria Pilar|last3=Weingarth|first3=Markus|last4=Nand|first4=Deepak|last5=Hickman|first5=David T.|last6=Mlaki Ndao|first6=Dorin|last7=Reis|first7=Pedro|last8=Granet|first8=Anne|last9=Pfeifer|first9=Andrea|last10=Muhs|first10=Andreas|last11=Baldus|first11=Marc|pmid=24039018}}</ref> In recent years, his attention has been focussed on the analysis of in-cell NMR<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1073/pnas.1305563110|title=Importance of lipid-pore loop interface for potassium channel structure and function|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=110|issue=32|pages=13008–13|year=2013|last1=Van Der Cruijsen|first1=E. A. W.|last2=Nand|first2=D.|last3=Weingarth|first3=M.|last4=Prokofyev|first4=A.|last5=Hornig|first5=S.|last6=Cukkemane|first6=A. A.|last7=Bonvin|first7=A. M. J. J.|last8=Becker|first8=S.|last9=Hulse|first9=R. E.|last10=Perozo|first10=E.|last11=Pongs|first11=O.|last12=Baldus|first12=M.|pmid=23882077|pmc=3740848|bibcode=2013PNAS..11013008V |doi-access=free}}</ref> to study the structure and function of proteins in their native cellular environment.<ref name="C2W_DNP">{{Cite news|title=Nieuwe NMR ziet ook gevouwen eiwitten|newspaper=Chemisch2Weekblad|author=Frank van Geel|date=December 10, 2011|language=NL}}</ref>
== Honours and awards== Marc Baldus received the Founders Medal of the International Conference on Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems (ICMRBS) in August 2006.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Chemical & Engineering News|title=Marc Baldus Receives Founders Medal|date=25 September 2006|url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/84/i39/Marc-Baldus-Receives-Founders-Medal.html?type=paidArticleContent|accessdate=2014-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie|date=26 July 2006|language=DE|title=Auszeichnung für Marc Baldus vom MPI für biophysikalische Chemie|url=http://www3.mpibpc.mpg.de/groups/pr/PR/2006/06_13/|accessdate=2014-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=M. Baldus erhalt Founders-Medaille|date=December 2006|language=DE|publisher=Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker|journal=Mitteilungsblatt der Fachgruppe Magnetische Resonanzspektroskopie|url=https://www.gdch.de/fileadmin/downloads/Netzwerk_und_Strukturen/Fachgruppen/Magnetresonanz/MARS/mars132006-complete.pdf|accessdate=2014-11-04}}</ref> In 2014, Marc Baldus received the Günther Laukien Prize from Richard Ernst, 1991 Nobel laureate in Chemistry. The prize recognizes cutting-edge experimental NMR research, is awarded yearly and is one of the most prestigious prizes in the field of NMR and MRI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.structuralbiology.eu/support/whats-on/news/marc-baldus-receives-prestigious-laukien-prize-2014|publisher=Instruct|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=2015-11-04|title=Marc Baldus receives prestigious Laukien Prize 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ti-coast.com/index.php?form=nieuws&id=196|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=2015-11-04|title=Marc Baldus receives prestigious Laukien Prize 2014|publisher=COAST}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.narcis.nl/person/RecordID/PRS1315189/Language/en Marc Baldus] at NARCIS, the database of scientists working at Dutch institutions * [https://www.uu.nl/staff/MBaldus Marc Baldus'] personal page at Utrecht University
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baldus, Marc}} Category:21st-century German physicists Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Technische Universität Darmstadt alumni Category:University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences alumni