Interdisciplinary PhD projects

In September 2021, PhD students in BioSC Core Groups had the opportunity to apply for interdisciplinary small projects covering different BioSC locations and research areas. Two projects are funded as of December 2021. A new call for doctoral projects will be issued at the beginning of 2022.

Natural indole carbazoles are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with numerous potential applications, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. The aim of the ARcyria project is a biosynthesis-integrated derivatisation of the chemical structure of arcyriaflavin A to obtain novel compounds and thus expand the arcyriaflavin family. For this purpose, suitable oxidoreductases for the derivatisation of the precursor compounds will be identified and implemented into the biosynthetic pathway. The newly created biosynthesis modules will be investigated in the new, antibiotic-tolerant production host Neopseudomonas.

Inositols are promising candidates for food supplements due to various health-promoting properties. The InoDH project focuses on the biochemical and structural characterisation of inositol dehydrogenases from Corynebacterium glutamicum to analyse their potential for producing valuable inositol isomers. Based on structural models and molecular dynamics simulations, a selection of inositol dehydrogenases will be made. These will be produced, purified and biochemically characterised. Finally, promising enzyme candidates will be used to establish a process for the cost-effective production of inositol isomers.