The formation of protein complexes is a highly organised process that does not begin with the “finished” proteins. Studies conducted by researchers at the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) demonstrate that they form in a coordinated way when the protein subunits are synthesised. “Our findings fundamentally alter our understanding of how biologically active protein complexes form in the cell,” reports Prof. Dr. Bernd Bukau. The results were published in Nature.