(2025)
Mixing and matching of hybrid megasynthases is a hub for the evolution of metabolic diversity in Cyanobacteria.
Angew Chem Int Ed
[Epub ahead of print]
Prof. Dr. Christian Hertweck
Biomolecular Chemistry · Head +49 3641 532-1101 christian.hertweck@leibniz-hki.deCurriculum vitae
Main Research Areas
- Investigation of biosynthetic pathways of the secondary metabolism of bacteria and fungi
- Use of enzymes and recombinant microorganisms for synthetic implementation
- Isolation and structural identification of natural products
- Molecular basis of fungus-bacteria-interactions
Professional Career
| 2008 | Rejection of professorship, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Switzerland |
| 2008 – 2023 | Deputy Director at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Jena, Germany |
| 2008 | Rejection of professorship, Technical University Munich, Germany |
| Since 2006 | Head of Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, HKI Jena |
| Since 2006 | Professor (W3) and chair of Natural Product Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU), Germany |
| 2006 | Habilitation (Venia legendi) in organic chemistry, FSU Jena |
| 2005 | Rejection of professorship (W3), Rheinische Friedrich Willhelms University of Bonn, Germany |
| 2005 | Acceptance of professorship (W3), FSU Jena |
| 2001– 2005 | Head of junior research group, HKI Jena |
| 1999 – 2000 | Research assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, funded through a Feodor Lynen fellowship for postdocs (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation) |
| 1996 – 1999 | PhD, Friedrich Willhelms University Bonn and Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, funded through a Max Planck doctoral fellowship |
| 1996 | Diploma in chemistry at the Friedrich Willhelms University Bonn, Germany |
Awards · Appointments · Scientific Activities
| 2015 | Member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina |
| 2015 | Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Award |
| 2015 | David Gottlieb Memorial Lecture Award, University of Illinois |
| 2014 | Wilhelm Manchot-Research Professor |
| Since 2013 | Member of the editorial board Bioorganic Chemistry |
| Since 2012 | Editor, Chemistry & Biology |
| Since 2012 | Member of the faculty of 1000 |
| Since 2011 | Member of the editorial board, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry |
| Since 2011 | Member of the editorial board, Journal of Antibiotics |
| 2011 | NPR lecture award |
| Since 2010 | Member of the editorial board, ChemBioChem |
| 2009 – 2012 | Member of the editorial board, Chemistry & Biology |
| 2006 | Research prize of the Dr. Otto Röhm-Memorial-Foundation |
| Since 2005 | Member of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) |
| 2005 | DECHEMA award for natural product research |
| 2005 | Science award for life sciences and physics from the Beutenberg Campus Jena e.V. |
| 2005 | Thuringian research award (category: basic research) |
| Since 2003 | Member of the programme committee, Natural Product Meeting, Irsee |
| Since 2002 | Member of the DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology |
| Since 2001 | Member of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) |
Publications
(2025)
Dual-use virulence factors of the opportunistic pathogen Chromobacterium haemolyticum mediate haemolysis and colonization.
bioRxiv
[Preprint]
(2025)
Dual-use virulence factors of the opportunistic pathogen Chromobacterium haemolyticum mediate hemolysis and colonization.
mBio ,
e0360524.
(2025)
Antibacterial siderophores of Pandoraea pathogens and their impact on the diseased lung microbiota.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ,
e202505714.
(2025)
Discovery and biosynthesis of celluxanthenes, antibacterial arylpolyene alkaloids from diverse cellulose-degrading anaerobic bacteria.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ,
e202503697.
(2025)
The give and take in photosymbiosis unraveled by metabolomics of Radiolaria.
bioRxiv
[Preprint]
(2025)
A chemical radar allows bacteria to detect and kill predators.
Cell S0092-8674(25),
00269-7.
(2024)
Beneficial soil fungus kills predatory nematodes with dehydropeptides translocating into the animal gut.
J Am Chem Soc 146(50),
34702-34710.
(2024)
A mutualistic bacterium rescues a green alga from an antagonist.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 121(15),
e2401632121.
(2024)
Trapping of a polyketide synthase module after C-C bond formation reveals transient acyl carrier domain interactions.
Angew Chem Int Ed 63(9),
e202315850.
