Protein Biochemistry and PhotoBioCatalysis

Our research focuses on enzyme engineering and enzyme discovery for biocatalysis.

Within the ERC Starting grant project LightZymes starting in 2018, we envision to create proteins that use light energy to catalyze non-natural reactions.

For enzyme discovery, we apply in silico screening approaches to identify biocatalysts with desired properties (e.g., substrate specificity). Our key question here is: "How does enzyme's function relate with its structure and amino acid sequence"?

Additionally, we use protein engineering to improve the proteins in the desired way.

Together with collaborating partners from industry and academia, we apply our identified and engineered catalysts for the synthesis of fine chemicals such as chiral amines.