Awards
2014 Peter Yates Lecture, University of Toronto
2005 Prize for excellent basic research at Saxony-Anhalt
2001 Dorothea-Erxleben-Prize (best doctoral thesis)


Major Research Interests
The central research topic of our department is the analysis of molecular reaction mechanisms of enzymes as nature's chemical catalysts. In this context, we study enzymes with vitamin-derived cofactors, with metal ions, and Schiff base-forming enzymes. A particular focus is laid on the structural and kinetic characterization of enzymatic reaction intermediates by high-resolution X-ray crystallography, steady-state and transient kinetic methods, NMR spectroscopy and theoretical studies. Knowledge about the reaction mechanism is exploited to redesign enzymes for biocatalytic applications and for drug design.