(2022)
Bacterial ectosymbionts in cuticular organs chemically protect a beetle during molting stages.
ISME J 16(12),
2691-2701.

Prof. Dr. Christian Hertweck
Deputy Director 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
2011 | Rejection of professorship, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Switzerland |
Since 2008 | 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
(2022)
Thiotemplated biosynthesis of bacterial polyyne fatty acids by a designated desaturase tiad.
ChemBioChem 23(21),
e202200430.
(2022)
Sequential allylic alcohol formation by a multifunctional cytochrome P450 monooxygenase with rare redox partners.
Angew Chem Int Ed 61(26),
e202203264.
(2022)
Efficient gene delivery of tailored amphiphilic polypeptides by polyplex surfing.
Biomacromolecules 23(11),
4718-4733.
(2022)
Deciphering chemical mediators regulating specialized metabolism in a symbiotic cyanobacterium.
Angew Chem Int Ed 61(26),
e202204545.
(2022)
Fusaric acid detoxification: a strategy of Gliocladium roseum involved in its antagonism against Fusarium verticillioides.
Mycotoxin Res 38(1),
13-25.
(2022)
Assessment of bioactivity-modulating pseudo-ring formation in psilocin and related tryptamines.
ChemBioChem 23(13),
e202200183.
(2022)
An intramodular thioesterase domain catalyses chain release in the biosynthesis of a cytotoxic virulence factor.
RSC Chem Biol 3(9),
1121-1128.
(2022)
Chain release mechanisms in polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis.
Nat Prod Rep 39(1),
163-205.
(Review)
(2022)
Small-molecule activation of OGG1 increases oxidative DNA damage repair by gaining a new function.
Science 376(6600),
1471-1476.