Research for the bioeconomy of the future
Jülich, November 9, 2018 - Industrial or white biotechnology uses microorganisms and enzymes as biocatalysts to produce bulk and fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and proteins from renewable resources. It thus plays an essential role in establishing a future bioeconomy, e.g. to replace energy-intensive petroleum-based production processes. Current developments and findings from research were the focus of the Jülich Biotech Day 2018.
Prof. Philippe Soucaille (University of Toulouse, France) reported on new studies on the production of the biofuel n-butanol. New tools for the discovery and improvement of enzymes for biocatalytic applications were presented by Prof. Uwe Bornscheuer (University of Greifswald). Examples of current biotechnology research in Jülich aiming at the development of biorefineries and the production of secondary metabolites were given by Dr. Stephan Noack and Dr. Andreas Klein. Prof. Karl-Heinz Maurer (AB Enzymes) gave insights into the industrial use of enzymes, for example in the food industry. In the final lecture, Prof. Uwe Deppenmeier (University of Bonn) presented the diverse applications of acetic acid bacteria.
The Christian Wandrey Prize went to Isabell Scheifele from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) this year. Title of her award-winning master's thesis: "Magnetic purification of Glu-tagged GFP with iron oxide nanoparticles". The junior researcher developed an alternative and cost-saving purification process for proteins based on their immobilization on magnetic particles. The prize, donated by the former head of the Institute of Biotechnology 2 of Forschungszentrum Jülich, Prof. Christian Wandrey, is awarded every two years for outstanding and application-related diploma and master theses.
In addition to IBG-1, Jülich biotechnology includes the Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology (IMET) and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (IBOC) of the University of Düsseldorf on the campus of Forschungszentrum Jülich. They are part of the "Bioeconomy Science Center" (BioSC) founded in 2010 by Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Universities of Aachen, Bonn, and Düsseldorf. The interdisciplinary research of the more than 1000 scientists of BioSC aims at the development of an environmentally friendly economy based on renewable resources.
Weitere Informationen:
Institute of Bio-und Geosciences, Biotechnologie (IBG-1)
Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology (IMET)
Institute for Bioorganic Chemistry (IBOC)
Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSc)
Contact:
Prof. Michael Bott
Direktor Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften, Bereich Biotechnologie (IBG-1)
Tel.: 02461 61-3294
E-Mail: m.bott@fz-juelich.de
Press contact:
Erhard Zeiss, Pressereferent
Tel.: 02461 61-1841
E-Mail: e.zeiss@fz-juelich.de