Bioeconomy Science Center
Research and cooperation for a sustainable bioeconomy
Bioeconomy Science Center
Research and cooperation for a sustainable bioeconomy

SEED FUND 2.0: New Projects

There were two SEED FUND calls in 2019 as part of phase 2 of the NRW BioSC strategy project. The OPEN Call was without thematic restrictions while the LINK call focused on topics related to the FocusLabs. Five projects were selected and started in September 2019.

SEED FUND 2.0 - OPEN projects

GlycoHype – Synthesis of glycosides by hyperthermophilic glycosidases

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Lothar Elling, Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University

Partners:
Dr. Andreas Knapp, Prof. Dr. Karl-Erich Jaeger, Molecular Enzyme Technology, HHU Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Jochen Büchs, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University
Prof. Dr. Holger Gohlke, Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry, HHU Düsseldorf

The sustainable synthesis of industrially relevant glycosides, such as surfactants (alkylglycosides) for laundry and cosmetics formulations or building blocks (acrylate-glycosides) for the synthesis of polymers with anti-fouling properties and fragrance and aroma molecules in cosmetics and food (aryl-glycosides), is still not well developed. As biocatalysts, glycosidases represent an alternative for currently applied chemical catalysts in glycoside synthesis with expected significant reduction of waste. Especially, hyperthermophilic glycosidases are considered as favorable enzymes in terms of process parameters such as higher solubility of substrates at higher temperatures. In the project GlycoHype, expertise in the research fields of biotransformation, biochemical engineering, and computational structural biology will be combined to expand the scope of this enzyme for the synthesis of industrially relevant glycosides.

Duration: 11 months

 

PepUse – Peptide adhesion promoters for user centered plant health applications


Project coordination: Dr. Mehdi Davari, Dr. Felix Jakob, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg, Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University

Partners:
PD Dr. Bernd König, Prof. Dr. Henrike Heise, Physical Biology, HHU Düsseldorf and Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich
Dr. Michael Wustmans, Dr. Chad Baum, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Bröring, Technology and Innovation Management in Agribusiness, University of Bonn

Peptide adhesion promoters (anchor peptides, APs) that universally bind compound containers or antimicrobial peptides/enzymes specifically to plant surfaces are of high interest to design novel plant health/protection agents for a resource-efficient and sustainable production in agriculture. In order to enable the rational design of tailor-made adhesion promoters for application requirements, two key aspects have to be explored: (1) detailed definition of application requirements from a user (farmer) point of view, (2) understanding of the surface bound anchor peptide structure and its binding mechanism. With the envisioned results we enable the identification of novel applications areas (e.g. in seed coatings, root binding or microplastic management) and the development of efficient formulations. The PepUse team aims to promote translation research for follow up projects with agricultural industries employing for instance bifunctional peptides.

Duration: 12 months

 

Lignin2Value – Valorization of lignin from agricultural residues for integrated biorefinery

Project coordination: Dr. Katja Koschorreck, Prof. Vlada Urlacher, Biochemistry, HHU Düsseldorf

Partners:
Dr. Philipp Grande, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr, Plant Sciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich
Dr. Stephan Noack, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wiechert, Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich

For the development of economically feasible biorefinery concepts, value-added strategies for all three main components of lignocellulose – lignin, cellulose and non-cellulosic sugars – are needed. While for cellulose and non-cellulosic polysaccharides several valorization strategies have been proposed, the conversion of lignin into high-value products is still a crucial challenge, because lignin depolymerization into soluble mono- and oligolignols, convertable by microorganisms, is quite challenging due to its recalcitrance and complex structure. In the project Lignin2Value, OrganoCat-lignin fractions from agricultural residues will be treated with a set of naturally occurring lignin-degrading enzymes from bacteria and fungi. This will lead to the production of monomers which will first be utilized as carbon source for the growth of Corynebacterium glutamicum and later for production of succinic acid.

Duration: 12 months

 

SEED FUND 2.0 - LINK projects

HaloEnz – Enzymatic halogenation: Enzyme identification, characterization, application

- linked to FocusLabs CombiCom, greenRelease and HyImPAct -


Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Holger Gohlke, Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry, HHU Düsseldorf

Partners:
Dr. Thomas Claasen, Prof. Dr. Jörg Pietruszka, Bioorganic Chemistry, HHU Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Björn Usadel, Botany and Molecular Genetics, RWTH Aachen University

Organohalogen moieties occur frequently in pharmaceuticals and agrochemical products as halogen insertion can improve compound properties, including bioactivity. However, traditional synthetic halogenation methods are complicated by a lack of specificity and regioselectivity and/or require toxic and environmental-harmful halogen sources. Therefore, methods for the facile, selective, and environmental-friendly installation of halogen-substituents are required. The project HaloEnz aims at identifying, characterizing, and utilizing novel halogenase enzymes from secondary metabolism of algae, that way introducing a novel strategy for exploiting natural resources towards halogenating enzymes and leading to the development of novel synthetic methods for the creation of new compounds with enhanced functions.

Duration: 24 months

 

GreenToxiConomy – Green toxicology for a green bioeconomy

- linked to FocusLabs Bio2, CombiCom and greenRelease -


Project coordination: Dr. Sebastian Heger, Dr. Thomas-Benjamin Seiler, Dr. Martina Roß-Nickoll, Prof. Dr. Henner Hollert, Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University

Partners:
Dr. Till Tiso, Prof. Dr. Lars Blank, Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University
Dr. Kerstin Schipper, Prof. Dr. Michael Fedbrügge, Microbiology, HHU Düsseldorf
Dr. Christian Bergs, Prof. Dr. Andrij Pich, Technical und Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University

Bioeconomy bears the potential to significantly reduce environmental pollution based on the integrated use of sustainable resources and processes. In this context, the toxicity of novel products is of uppermost importance. The integration of (eco)toxicological test systems in the development process of novel compounds enables an early identification of potentially harmful effects, and, thus, the focus of the product development on less toxic products and production pathways. In this project, a substance-specific and exposure-based proof-of-concept strategy should be developed for the first time within the BioSC. Two different product categories, biosurfactants as well as microgel-based pesticide release systems will be investigated. The results on the product toxicity obtained within this project can be used for further applications, such as Life Cycle Assessments or socioeconomic studies.

Duration: 24 months