


The research group aims in developing so far under-explored bacteria as novel platform organisms for applications in biotechnology and biocatalysis. The major focus is on applied microbiology with photosynthetic purple bacteria. The extraordinary metabolic flexibility makes these microorganisms an outstanding source for various valuable compounds such as anti-tumor compounds, recombinant membrane proteins, terpenoids, biopolymers, vitamins, biohydrogen and others. Based on a novel cultivation process with full expression of photosynthetic genes, completely independent of light, under microaerobic conditions in the dark, it is now possible to exploit the full metabolic potential, normally available only under photosynthetic conditions, thereby facilitating applications requiring large-scale cultures.
In order to meet the needs of current bioeconomy concepts, the bioprocesses are developed using industrial waste streams as substrates for large-scale cultivation.
In addition, enzymes obtained from the bacteria are currently used for developing biocatalytic systems for the conversion of CO2 to value-added products.
The individual projects are highly interdisciplinary cooperative projects with external partners, following a systems biology approach with a strong impact of computational modeling.
Current group members are at the Postdoc or M.Sc. level as well and lab-technicians. We also regularly host students for their Bachelor or Master theses.
Kay Bretz
Carina Dietz
Sarah Leibinger
Scientific publications
Conference talks
Analyse und Design bakterieller Enzymkaskaden zur stofflichen Verwertung von CO2
EnzCaps„Entwicklung einer neuen Technologie: Eingekapselte synthetische Multienzymsysteme für Multischritt-Reaktionen in Anwesenheit von organischen Lösungsmitteln: ein systematischer Ansatz“
„Purple Synthetic Biology” N-Quellen regulierte Produktion von einem zwei-Schritt katalysierenden Enzymkomplex in Rhodospirillum rubrum
ChiC-Polymers - Maßgeschneiderte Biopolymere durch molekulares Design von Nanocellulose-synthetisierenden Bakterien