Bacteria are confronted with changing environmental conditions. The modification of the cellular lipid composition is one important strategy to render bacterial cells less susceptible to antimicrobial treatment.
It is our goal to study these cellular adaptation processes on a molecular basis. For this purpose, we make us of classical microbiology, genetics, protein biochemistry and structural biology.
Lipid-homeostasis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: tRNA-dependent biosynthesis of the phospholipid alanyl-phosphatidylglycerol results in an increased bacterial resistance in the presence of antimicrobial compounds.
Chlorophylls are of prime importance for the global primary production. The biosynthesis of these pigment molecules includes a sequence of sophisticated enzymatic conversions.
It is our goal to resolve these individual enzymatic steps on the molecular level. For this purpose, we make use of biochemical, biophysical and structural biological techniques.
Microbes represent an important reservoir for the future development of new drug compounds. The research association MINAS (Microbial Natural Products) is focusing on chemical synthesis, biosynthesis, production and on the analysis of the biological activity of new drugs.
The compound violacein shows antimicrobial and also antitumor activity. Within the framework of MINAS we are studying different enzymes of the violacein biosynthetic pathway.
We are cooperating with groups from the research unit ´chemical synthesis` to study the involved enzyme on the molecular level. For this purpose, we make use of biochemical, biophysical and structural biological techniques.