The European Research Council (ERC) is this year investing 1.8 billion euros throughout the EU to support cutting-edge researchers in the realisation of innovative and high-risk projects. With its ‘Starting Grants’, the ERC supports excellent junior researchers with up to 1.5 million euros so that they can pursue their research concepts with a large team over the course of five years. ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for me to realise my scientific ideas,’ says Junior Professor Höhne, who, in summer, managed to convince the expert panel in Brussels to fund his project proposal, in face of a highly competitive selection procedure.
Enzymes are truly amazing: They don’t just decompose our ingested food into separate parts, but also enable and control nearly all of the chemical reactions that occur in our cells. And this all happens under very mild conditions. That’s why biotechnologists are increasingly using enzymes for synthesis in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Products that are biotechnologically fabricated - in particular pharmaceutical active ingredients - can therefore be produced under more environmentally-friendly conditions. For this vision to come true, a lot still needs to be done. ‘In my research group we are searching for new enzymes that are not being using yet for chemical synthesis. Although there is a huge number of different natural enzymes, the spectrum is actually limited. My ERC Starting Grant Project LightZymes: Evolution of artificial enzymes for light-driven reactions gives me an excellent opportunity to discover unknown territories: I plan, together with my team, to create ‘artificial proteins’ that catalyse unnatural reactions and use light energy in the process to enable the reactions,’ says Höhne.
To optimise the proteins, we will use protein engineering methods. To start with, computer-aided modelling will help to design the first proteins. Then, thousands of variants will be produced through genetic, partially coincidental mutations. This pool of variants will then be scrutinised by Höhne and his team, using automated measuring instruments, to find the best biocatalysts. ‘It’s a bit like Creation and evolution in the laboratory. On the one hand, we use scientific knowledge and creativity and on the other hand, there are surprises born of coincidence. That all usually leads to a very fruitful mix,’ says Matthias Höhne.
The Managing Director of the Institute of Biochemistry, Prof. Dr. Michal Lalk, stresses the excellent integration of the research areas being investigated by Matthias Höhne’s research group in the University of Greifswald’s key field of research, ‘Proteomics and Protein Technologies in Infection Biology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology’. ‘By appointing Matthias Höhne as Junior Professor of Protein Biochemistry, the University took an important step towards refining the research profile of the Institute of Biochemistry, which has now received an important acknowledgement by successfully being awarded this ERC Starting Grant for Mr. Höhne. We are delighted that three of the University of Greifswald's ERC Starting Grantees work at the Institute of Biochemistry.’ And Höhne adds: ‘The modern infrastructure and interdisciplinary expert knowledge at the Institute of Biochemistry provides my research project with excellent conditions for a successful investigation of my complicated subject matter.’
The Rector of the University of Greifswald, Prof. Dr. Johanna Weber, emphasizes the noteworthy value of the grant: ‘ERC Starting Grants are awarded in a hard-fought international competition for the best research ideas. They have become a central means for proving research excellence. I congratulate Matthias Höhne sincerely for this renowned distinction!’
Junior Professor Matthias Höhne studied Biochemistry in Greifswald and after finishing his doctorate under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Uwe Bornscheuer, he went to Heidelberg for his postdoctoral research. In 2012 he became Junior Professor of Protein Biochemistry at the Institute of Biochemistry in Greifswald. Within five years, he has successfully managed to create a group, which currently has six doctoral candidates and carries out fundamental research, but also practice-oriented projects together with industrial partners.
Contact at the University of Greifswald
Junior Professor Dr. Matthias Höhne
Institute of Biochemistry
Protein Biochemistry
Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 4
17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49 3834 420 4417
matthias.hoehne(at)uni-greifswald(dot)de