A5056923141- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- RNA Research and Splicing
- RNA modifications and cancer
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- RNA regulation and disease
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Cancer therapeutics and mechanisms
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
2018-2025
Freie Universität Berlin
2009-2022
Universität Greifswald
2017-2021
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
2018
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
2005-2011
Max Planck Society
2005-2008
Osaka University
2005
University of Vienna
1995
University of Bremen
1983
University of Stuttgart
1975
Abstract The extreme durability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) debris has rendered it a long-term environmental burden. At the same time, current recycling efforts still lack sustainability. Two recently discovered bacterial enzymes that specifically degrade PET represent promising solution. First, Ideonella sakaiensis PETase, structurally well-characterized consensus α/β-hydrolase fold enzyme, converts to mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) (MHET). MHETase, second key hydrolyzes MHET educts and...
Thermophilic polyester hydrolases (PES-H) have recently enabled biocatalytic recycling of the mass-produced synthetic polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has found widespread use in packaging and textile industries. The growing demand for efficient PET prompted us to solve high-resolution crystal structures two metagenome-derived enzymes (PES-H1 PES-H2) notably also complex with various substrate analogues. Structural analyses computational modeling using molecular dynamics simulations...
In recent years, enzymatic recycling of the widely used polyester polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become a complementary solution to current thermomechanical for colored, opaque, and mixed PET. A large set promising hydrolases that depolymerize PET have been found enhanced by worldwide initiatives using various methods protein engineering. Despite achievements made in these works, it remains difficult compare enzymes' performance their applicability large-scale reactions due lack...
Dronpa is a novel GFP-like fluorescent protein with exceptional light-controlled switching properties. It may be reversibly switched between on-state and nonfluorescent off-state by irradiation light. To elucidate the molecular basis of mechanism, we generated switchable crystals. Using these crystals determined elusive dark-state structure at 1.95-A resolution. We found that photoswitching results in cis-trans isomerization chromophore accompanied complex structural rearrangements four...
Proteins that can be reversibly photoswitched between a fluorescent and nonfluorescent state bear enormous potential in diverse fields, such as data storage, vivo protein tracking, subdiffraction resolution light microscopy. However, these proteins could hitherto not live up to their full because the molecular switching mechanism is resolved. Here, we clarify photoswitching of asFP595, green (GFP)-like transferred from “off” “on” back again, by blue light, respectively. To this end,...
RSFPs (reversibly switchable fluorescent proteins) may be repeatedly converted between a and non-fluorescent state by irradiation have attracted widespread interest for many new applications. The RSFP Dronpa switched with blue light from into state, back again UV light. To obtain insight the underlying molecular mechanism of this switching, we determined crystal structure equilibrium Dronpa. Its bicyclic chromophore is formed spontaneously Cys62-Tyr63-Gly64 tripeptide. In it adopts slightly...
TfCa, a promiscuous carboxylesterase from Thermobifida fusca, was found to hydrolyze polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation intermediates such as bis(2-hydroxyethyl) (BHET) and mono-(2-hydroxyethyl)-terephthalate (MHET). In this study, we elucidated the structures of TfCa in its apo form, well complex with PET monomer analogue BHET. The structure-function relationship investigated by comparing hydrolytic activity on various ortho- para-phthalate esters different lengths....
RNA editosomes selectively deaminate cytidines to uridines in plant organellar transcripts-mostly restore protein functionality and consequently facilitate mitochondrial chloroplast function. The editosomal pentatricopeptide repeat proteins serve target recognition, whereas the intensively studied DYW domain elicits catalysis. Here we present structures functional data of a an inactive ground state activated. domains harbour cytidine deaminase fold C-terminal motif, with catalytic structural...
Polyurethane (PUR), the fifth most prevalent synthetic polymer, substantially contributes to global plastic waste problem. Biotechnology-based recycling methods have recently emerged as innovative solutions disposal and sparked interest among scientific communities industrial stakeholders in discovering designing highly active plastic-degrading enzymes. Here, ligand-free crystal structure of UMG-SP2, a metagenome-derived urethanase with depolymerization activities, at 2.59 Å resolution, well...
Assembly of a spliceosome, catalyzing precursor–messenger RNA splicing, involves multiple RNA–protein remodeling steps, driven by eight conserved DEXD/H-box helicases. The 250-kDa Brr2 enzyme, which is essential for U4/U6 di-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein disruption during spliceosome catalytic activation and disassembly, the only member this group that permanently associated with thus requiring its faithful regulation. At same time, represents unique subclass superfamily 2 nucleic acid...
Several systemic autoimmune diseases display a prominent IFN signature. This is caused by continuous IFN-α production plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which are activated immune complexes (ICs) containing nucleic acid. The pDCs stimulated with RNA-containing IC (RNA-IC) consisting of anti-RNP autoantibodies and U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles was recently shown to be inhibited monocytes, but enhanced NK cells. inhibitory effect monocytes mediated TNF-α, PGE(2), reactive...
Fast screening of enzyme variants is crucial for tailoring biocatalysts the asymmetric synthesis non-natural chiral chemicals, such as amines. However, most existing methods either are limited by throughput or require specialized equipment. Herein, we report a simple, high-throughput, low-equipment dependent, and generally applicable growth selection system engineering amine-forming converting enzymes apply it to improve belonging three different classes. This results in (i) an amine...
Reversibly switchable fluorescent proteins can be repeatedly photoswitched between a and nonfluorescent state by irradiation with the light of two different wavelengths. The molecular basis switching process remains controversial topic. Padron0.9 is reversibly protein "positive" characteristics, exhibiting excellent spectroscopic properties. Its chromophore formed amino acids Cys-Tyr-Gly. We obtained high resolution x-ray structures in both states used structural information for dynamics...