Dept. of Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry

Research interests

Summary - Molecular redesign of proteins in vitro and in vivo

   The work aims to understand protein structure/function relationships and to redesign protein structure to generate protein variants with novel functions. The research focus is primarily on enzymes and DNA-binding proteins.

Directed evolution and engineering of enzymes and DNA-binding proteins

Enzymology and biocatalysis

• Structure/function studies on hydrolases, dehydrogenases and aldolases.
• Directed evolution of substrate specificities, catalytic efficiencies and mechanisms.
• Coupled reactions and biocatalysis.

Protein/DNA interaction

• Mapping structural determinants in helix-turn-helix proteins for specific base recognition and affinity for DNA.
• Molecular evolution of protein/DNA interactions in vitro.
• Constructing tools that allow for generation of taylor-made DNA-binding proteins.

Teaching

Courses

Master Program in Chemistry

• Bioorganic Catalysis, 15 hp

Undergraduate level

• Biochemistry, 15 hp

Undergraduate/MSc projects

• In vitro evolution of novel DNA-binding proteins 
• Organo-enzymes: synthetic prosthetic groups
• Analysis and improvements of stability in non-polar solvents and at high temperatures of plant epoxide hydrolase StEH1