Focus: molecular basis of the function and (de)regulation of proteins central to cellular key signaling networks in bacteria, plants and animals. Integrative structural biology based on hybrid approaches, to infer structure and function of macromolecular assemblies, to enhance computational methods for functional annotation of genes (system-wide or focused), and to design and engineer molecules with desired properties (enzymes, switches, genetic/epi-genetic regulators, detectors, inhibitors).