Bioinformatics

Decoding Data for a Sustainable Future

Genome research and the identification of new genes and enzymes are key tasks in the bioeconomy. Bioinformaticians at Jülich are experts in using advanced bioinformatics and AI to transform large and complex data into comprehensive knowledge for a sustainable future.

Our new AI methods expand the possibilities for breeding ‘smart crops’ with improved quality and a reduced negative impact on the environment.
Dr. Jedrzej Jakub Szymanski, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-4: Bioinformatics

Analysis and optimization of biological systems for the bioeconomy

Plants are a key source of biomass, pharmaceutical agents, food, and feed, while microorganisms convert this biomass into valuable products. Harnessing these biological processes requires a deep understanding of genomes, metabolic pathways, and microbial communities.

Bioinformatics plays a pivotal role here. It enables the analysis of large and complex datasets to evaluate genetic information, to model metabolic processes, and to optimize biological systems. Studying plant genomes and gene functions supports the breeding of climate-resistant, high-yielding plants. At the same time, analysing the biodiversity of microbiomes and biosynthetic pathways in microbes and plants enables the targeted selection of optimized strains and enzymes for the sustainable production of bio-based metabolites with industrial and pharmaceutical applications.

800

million structural models of proteins are available for analysis using molecular bioinformatics methods.

1,000

plant genomes have been sequenced at IBG-4 to date, each containing around 1 to 13 billion DNA base pairs per genome, which determine the programming and structure of plants.

1

trillion and more types of microorganisms can be found on Earth, of which only around 20,000 have been cultivated and 10 million catalogued. Metagenome analyses and the bioinformatics evaluation of these analyses provide an approximation of this diversity.

Research priorities at Forschungszentrum Jülich

Analysis of plant genomes and metagenomic studies

Development of algorithms to investigate large microbiomes, plant genomes, and pan-genomes
Identification of genes to breed resistant, high-yielding plants
Support in identifying enzymes and bioactive substances for industrial applications
Analysis of microbial communities to determine functions and interactions

Modelling and simulation of biomolecular interactions

Use of structural enzyme information to predict and optimize activity, substrate specificity, and stability
Development of algorithms to analyse metabolic fluxes and optimize biosynthetic metabolic pathways

Optimization of bioprocesses

Programming digital twins to simulate biological systems under changing conditions

Modelling of complex biological systems

Creation of computational models to simulate soil ecosystems and root–soil interactions

Data management and bioinformatics infrastructure

Administration of large biological datasets by linking and making them available in structured databases

Computing and AI-supported bioinformatics

Development of scalable cloud environments for biological data analysis
Implementation of algorithms for metagenome analysis
Development of AI-based models for the prediction of enzyme functions
Use of AI to decode new gene regulation codes in plants

Sustainable agriculture: data-driven solutions

Jülich researchers use bioinformatics to analyse plant genomes, optimize land management, and develop resistant crops.

Bioinformatics in bioprocess optimization

The MetaProcess project develops stable, efficient, and economically sustainable biocatalytic processes for the environmentally friendly production of chiral amino alcohols such as metaraminol from renewable raw materials.

AI process for crop improvement

The use of artificial intelligence allows us to understand how genome expression is regulated, which in turn helps us to understand how useful traits are encoded in crops.

Design and discovery of new enzymes for biotechnology

Jülich researchers use bioinformatics to develop innovative approaches to identify and design new enzymes relevant to the bioeconomy.

Software for predicting enzyme functions

The supercomputing infrastructure at Jülich enables complex bioinformatics analyses. One example is the development of TopEC, software that predicts enzyme functions with the aid of graph neural networks.

Unlocking the bioeconomic potential of the microbiome

The “Bluetools” project aims to utilize microbiomes for healthier oceans and the blue bioeconomy, and has developed innovative tools for efficient and sustainable research and use.

Future prospects of bioinformatics for the bioeconomy

Bioinformatics research at Forschungszentrum Jülich is making a crucial contribution to a better understanding of biological systems and their targeted use for sustainable applications. By developing innovative algorithms, models, and databases, key challenges in the bioeconomy are addressed – from climate-adapted plant breeding and the optimization of microbial production processes to the digitalization of biological systems.

Continuously advancing bioinformatic methods opens up new ways of making bio-based value chains more efficient and resource-friendly. Combining biology, computer science, and data science makes it possible to control biological processes and develop sustainable solutions for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Bioinformatics thus plays a key role in driving the transformation toward a sustainable, bio-based economy.

Institutes with experts on bioinformatics

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