Enzyme Engineering and Structural Biology
In this group we develop and utilize enzymology to tackle the biodiversity crisis. We aim to achieve this via developing and integrating enzymes into industrially relevant processes, since enzymatic technologies carry tremendous potential to lower the environmental impacts.
What we try to achieve
We are interested in enzymatic glycosylation of natural products, such as aromas, fragrances, dyes, and pharmaceuticals, as a tool to control their solubility, volatility, stability, compartmentalization, and toxicity. For this, we focus on plant enzymes of the glycosyltransferase class. We specifically strive to lower the environmental impacts of conventional practices in the AgriTech and textile industries.
Why our research is important and how it can be used
Enzymatic processes have relatively lower impacts on the environment compared to petrochemical approaches, and contrary to chemical glycosylation routes, glycosyltransferase enzymes allow one-step reactions in a completely precise manner. Enzymatic glycosylation can render pharmaceuticals more soluble and bioavailable, detoxify harmful pesticides commonly used in agriculture, allow environmentally-friendly production of textile dyes, among many other applications.
How we achieve our aims – methods, tools, technologies
We are a multifaceted group of biochemists, structural biologists, microbiologists and computational biologists, and our primary techniques include but are not limited to X-ray crystallography, rational design, machine learning, HPLC, process design, and Life Cycle Assessment. We work to elucidate glycosyltransferase structure-function relationships governing specificity, turn-over rate, and stability, and integrate sustainability assessments to all our projects to ultimately develop low impact and industrially relevant enzymatic processes.
The group is headed by Senior Researcher Ditte Hededam Welner, and is located at Lyngby Campus, building 220, floor 5. PI office 504F.
We are interested in enzymatic glycosylation of natural products, such as aromas, fragrances, dyes, and pharmaceuticals, as a tool to control their solubility, volatility, stability, compartmentalization, and toxicity. For this, we focus on plant enzymes of the glycosyltransferase class. We specifically strive to lower the environmental impacts of conventional practices in the AgriTech and textile industries.
Why our research is important and how it can be used
Enzymatic processes have relatively lower impacts on the environment compared to petrochemical approaches, and contrary to chemical glycosylation routes, glycosyltransferase enzymes allow one-step reactions in a completely precise manner. Enzymatic glycosylation can render pharmaceuticals more soluble and bioavailable, detoxify harmful pesticides commonly used in agriculture, allow environmentally-friendly production of textile dyes, among many other applications.
How we achieve our aims – methods, tools, technologies
We are a multifaceted group of biochemists, structural biologists, microbiologists and computational biologists, and our primary techniques include but are not limited to X-ray crystallography, rational design, machine learning, HPLC, process design, and Life Cycle Assessment. We work to elucidate glycosyltransferase structure-function relationships governing specificity, turn-over rate, and stability, and integrate sustainability assessments to all our projects to ultimately develop low impact and industrially relevant enzymatic processes.
The group is headed by Senior Researcher Ditte Hededam Welner, and is located at Lyngby Campus, building 220, floor 5. PI office 504F.
Contact
Ditte Hededam Welner Senior Researcher & Group Leader diwel@biosustain.dtu.dk