At the Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB) at RWTH Aachen University, researchers are involved in various contributions to a circular bioeconomy. The main objective is the sustainable production of valuable substances from renewable carbon sources for a future bioeconomy. Our Synthetic Microbiology group focuses on engineering recombinant microorganisms and designing energy modules for the utilization and production of biofuels such as molecular hydrogen and methane. We employ an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating methods from molecular genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, spectroscopy, biocatalysis, and bioprocess engineering. We offer an outstanding research environment with state-of-the-art facilities at the iAMB and strong links to the Cluster of Excellence “Fuel Science center (FSC),” WSS century research center catalaix, and the Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC).
The PhD project is part of the DFG project “Molecular hydrogen conversion in phototrophs and heterotrophs with engineered oxygen-tolerant hydrogenases” in collaboration with the UFZ Leipzig. This project explores oxygen-tolerant hydrogenases in microbial hosts to achieve environmentally friendly H₂ production and utilisation.[1-3] By engineering hydrogenase cofactor specificity and metabolic interactions, we will enable light-driven H₂ production in cyanobacteria and H₂-dependent biotransformations in heterotrophs in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Bruno Bühler. This research promotes a sustainable bioeconomy and advances our fundamental understanding of bacterial physiology, photosynthesis and redox bioprocessing.
References:
[1] Lettau E., Lorenz C., Appel J., Boehm M., Cordero P., Lauterbach L. Insights into electron transfer and bifurcation of the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 hydrogenase reductase module 2024 Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg. 1866(1):149508. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2024.149508
[2] Lupacchini S, Appel J, Stauder R, Bolay P, Klähn S, Lettau E, Adrian L, Lauterbach L, Bühler B, Schmid A, Toepel J. 2021 Rewiring cyanobacterial photosynthesis by the implementation of an oxygen-tolerant hydrogenase. Metab Eng. 68:199-209.
[3] Lauterbach L, Lenz O 2019 How to make the reducing power of H2 available for in vivo biosyntheses and biotransformations. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 49:91-96 Review DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.11.020
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