(2024)
The fatal mushroom neurotoxin muscarine is released from a harmless phosphorylated precursor upon cellular injury.
Angew Chem Int Ed 63(52),
e202417220.
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
(2024)
Biosynthesis and recruitment of reactive amino acids in nonribosomal peptide assembly lines.
Curr Opin Chem Biol 81,
102494.
(Review)
(2024)
A catch-release strategy for the genomics-driven discovery of antiproliferative furan-functionalized peptides.
Angew Chem Int Ed 64(11),
e202421760.
(2024)
Direct a-hydroxy acid loading onto a bacterial thiotemplate assembly line via a multienzyme gateway.
Angew Chem Int Ed 63(30),
e202405165.
(2024)
Inducing novel endosymbioses by implanting bacteria in fungi.
Nature 635(8038),
415-422.
(2024)
Photosensitizers enable the formation of biphenyls with UV-LEDs and sunlight.
Chemistry 30(27),
e202400605.
(2024)
The unusual mode of action of the polyketide glycoside antibiotic cervimycin C.
mSphere 9(5),
e0076423.
(2024)
An enzymatic prodrug-like route to thio and selenoamides.
Angew Chem Int Ed 63(31),
e202404243.
(2024)
Novel biocatalysts from specialized metabolism.
Angew Chem Int Ed 63(4),
e202309284.
(Review)
(2024)
Analysis of the valgamicin biosynthetic pathway reveals a general mechanism for cyclopropanol formation across diverse natural product scaffolds.
ACS Chem Biol 19(3),
660-668.
