Research

Artificial metalloenzymes and photoenzymes

Artificial metalloenzymes combine the reactivity of metal complexes with the selectivity of proteins. They are generated by rational design and subsequently optimized for specific chemical reactions by directed evolution.

We utilize both natural proteins and de novo protein scaffolds, which are designed computationally, as starting points to develop these novel catalysts. In addition to applying the artificial metalloenzymes in biocatalysis, the detailed analysis of their molecular structure and mechanism is one of the lab’s key objectives.

Furthermore, we make use of photoexcitation as a catalytic tool to trigger alternative activities in both natural and designed enzymes. Our efforts in photobiocatalysis focus on enabling and controlling light-induced radical reactions in the chiral environment of the proteins.