Biosynthetic pathways

In microorganisms, even the most complex natural products are assembled from simple building blocks by means of enzymatic processing lines. We decode the biosynthetic program in bacteria and fungi on the chemical, biochemical and genetic levels. Using the knowledge gained, we aim at rationally reprogramming the pathways in the sense of combinatorial biosynthesis or synthetic (micro)biology to yield novel bioactive compounds. 

Staff

Christian Hertweck

Publications

Esmaeilbeigi M, Kalbassi MR, Seyedi J, Tayemeh MB, Moghaddam JA (2021) Intra and extracellular effects of benzo [α] pyrene on liver, gill and blood of Caspian White fish (Rutilus frissi kutum): Cyto-genotoxicity and histopathology approach. Mar Pollut Bull 163, 111942.
Sinotte VM, Conlon BH, Seibel E, Schwitalla JW, de Beer ZW, Poulsen M, Bos N (2021) Female-biased sex allocation and lack of inbreeding avoidance in Cubitermes termites. Ecol Evol 11(10), 5598-5605.
Marion A, Groll M, Scharf DH, Scherlach K, Glaser M, Sievers H, Schuster M, Hertweck C, Brakhage AA, Antes I, Huber EM (2017) Gliotoxin Biosynthesis: Structure, Mechanism, and Metal Promiscuity of Carboxypeptidase GliJ. ACS Chem Biol 12(7), 1874-1882.