Kourist Team

AMDase rendering (click to enlarge)

Research Goals

Major interest is the engineering and application of enzymes for synthetic purposes. Focus lies on lyases and oxidoreductases. Combination of the biocatalysts to enzyme cascade reactions gives rise to the production of optically pure building blocks and bio-based products. Using autotrophic microorganisms, inexpensive inorganic energy sources can be used to fuel cofactor regeneration. Besides the molecular characterization, development of methods and strategies for engineering of enzymes by designed evolution is pursued. Highly integrated approaches, combining rational and evolutionary routes are followed. This work includes strong interaction with structural biology and organic chemistry as well as analytical chemistry. Highlights of this research are the development of decarboxylase variants with improved activity and selectivity, the combination of lyases with metal-catalyzed reactions in organic solvents and the coupling of oxidoreductases to photosynthesis.

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Current Theses

  • Aline Telzerow: Widening the substrate scope of transaminases by protein engineering
  • Anna Schweiger: Engineering of novel selective Decarboxylases

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Selected Publications

2022
Julia Pitzer, Kerstin Steiner, Christian Schmid, Viktor K. Schein, Christoph Prause, Claudia Kniely, Michaela Reif, Martina Geier, Elena Pietrich, Tamara Reiter, Philipp Selig, Clemens Stückler, Peter Pöchlauer, Georg Steinkellner, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab, Anton Glieder and Wolfgang Kroutil Racemization-free and scalable amidation of l-proline in organic media using ammonia and a biocatalyst only Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2021
Sebastian Arndt, Birgit Grill, Helmut Schwab, Georg Steinkellner, Dominik Weis, Urska Pogorevcnik, Alexander Nauth, Karl Gruber, Till Opatz, Kai Donsbach, Siegfried R. Waldvogel and Margit Winkler The sustainable synthesis of levetiracetam by an enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution and an ex-cell anodic oxidation Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Aline Telzerow, Juraj Paris, Maria Håkansson, Javier González-Sabín, Nicolas Ríos-Lombardía, Harald Gröger, Francisco Morís, Martin Schürmann, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner Expanding the Toolbox of R-Selective Amine Transaminases by Identification and Characterization of New Members Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Birgit Grill, Melissa Horvat, Helmut Schwab, Ralf Gross, Kai Donsbach and Margit Winkler Gordonia hydrophobica Nitrile Hydratase for Amide preparation from nitriles Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Elia Calderini, Ivana Drienovská, Kamela Myrtollari, Michaela Pressnig, Volker Sieber, Helmut Schwab, Michael Hofer and Robert Kourist Simple Plug-In Synthetic Step for the Synthesis of (−)-Camphor from Renewable Starting Materials Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Birgit Grill, Melissa Horvat, Helmut Schwab, Ralf Gross, Kai Donsbach and Margit Winkler Gordonia hydrophobica Nitrile Hydratase for Amide Preparation from NitrilesEnzymes and Biocatalysis95-104 Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2020
Birgit Grill, Maximilian Glänzer, Helmut Schwab, Steiner Kerstin, Daniel Pienaar, Dean Brady, Kai Donsbach and Margit Winkler Functional Expression and Characterization of a Panel of Cobalt and Iron-Dependent Nitrile Hydratases Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2019
Mudassar Ahmad, Christine M. Winkler, Markus Kolmbauer, Harald Pichler, Helmut Schwab and Anita Emmerstorfer-Augustin Pichia pastoris protease-deficient and auxotrophic strains generated by a novel, user-friendly vector toolbox for gene deletion Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Aline Telzerow, Markus Hobisch, Monika Müller, Martin Schürmann, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner A co-expression system to shift the equilibrium of transamination reactions toward the synthesis of enantiomerically pure amines Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Leen Assil Companioni, Sandy Schmidt, Petra Heidinger, Helmut Schwab and Robert Kourist Hydrogen-driven cofactor regeneration for stereoselective whole-cell C=C bond reduction in Cupriavidus necator Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Juraj Paris, Aline Telzerow, Nicolás Ríos-Lombardía, Kerstin Steiner, Helmut Schwab, Francisco Morís, Harald Gröger and Javier González-Sabín Enantioselective One-Pot Synthesis of Biaryl-Substituted Amines by Combining Palladium and Enzyme Catalysis in Deep Eutectic Solvents Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Aline Telzerow, Juraj Paris, Maria Håkansson, Javier González-Sabín, Nicolás Ríos-Lombardía, Martin Schürmann, Harald Gröger, Francisco Morís, Robert Kourist, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner Amine Transaminase from Exophiala Xenobiotica - Crystal Structure and Engineering of a Fold IV Transaminase that Naturally Converts Biaryl Ketones Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2017
Tea Pavkov-Keller, Kerstin Steiner, Mario Faber, Martin Tengg, Helmut Schwab, Mandana Gruber-Khadjawi and Karl Gruber Crystal Structure and Catalytic Mechanism of CouO, a Versatile C-Methyltransferase from Streptomyces rishiriensis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2016
Zalina Magomedova, Andreea Grecu, Christoph W Sensen, Helmut Schwab and Petra Heidinger Characterization of two novel alcohol short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases from Ralstonia eutropha H16 capable of stereoselective conversion of bulky substrates Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Martin Tengg, Harald Stecher, Lisa Offner, Katharina Plasch, Felix Anderl, Hansjörg Weber, Helmut Schwab and Mandana Gruber Methyltransferases Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Katrin Niegelhell, Michael Süßenbacher, Katrin Jammernegg, Thomas Ganner, Daniel Schwendenwein, Helmut Schwab, Franz Stelzer, Harald Plank and Stefan Spirk Enzymes as Biodevelopers for Nano- And Micropatterned Bicomponent Biopolymer Thin Films. Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Tea Pavkov-Keller, Gernot Strohmeier, Matthias Diepold, Wilco Peeters, Natascha Smeets, Martin Schürmann, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner Discovery and structural characterisation of new fold type IV-transaminases exemplify the diversity of this enzyme fold Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2015
Petra Köfinger, Steffen Gruber and Helmut Schwab Versatile plasmid-based expression systems for Gram-negative bacteria-General essentials exemplified with the bacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16. Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Ivan Hajnal, Kurt Faber, Helmut Schwab, Melanie Hall and Kerstin Steiner Oxidative Alkene Cleavage Catalysed by Manganese-​Dependent Cupin TM1459 from Thermotoga maritima Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Katharina Schmoelzer, Tibor Czabany, Christiane Luley, Tea Pavkov-Keller, Doris Ribitsch, Helmut Schwab, Karl Gruber, Hansjörg Weber and Bernd Nidetzky Complete switch from α-2,3- to α-2,6-regioselectivity in Pasteurella dagmatis β-D-galactoside sialyltransferase by active-site redesign Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Thomas Vogl, Mudassar Ahmad, Florian Krainer, Helmut Schwab and Anton Glieder Restriction site free cloning (RSFC) plasmid family for seamless, sequence independent cloning in Pichia pastoris Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Romana Wiedner, Bettina Kothbauer, Tea Pavkov-Keller, Mandana Gruber, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner Improving the Properties of Bacterial R-selective Hydroxynitrile Lyases for Industrial Applications Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Anita Emmerstorfer, Miriam Wimmer-Teubenbacher, Tamara Wriessnegger, Erich Leitner, Monika Müller, Iwona Kaluzna, Martin Schürmann, Daniel Mink, Günther Zellnig, Helmut Schwab and Harald Pichler Over-expression of ICE2 stabilizes cytochrome P450 reductase levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2014
Andrzej Franciszek Lyskowski, Christian Gruber, Georg Steinkellner, M Schuermann, Helmut Schwab, Karl Gruber and Kerstin Steiner Crystal structure of an (R)-selective ω-transaminase from Aspergillus terreus (R)-selective ω-transaminase from Aspergillus terre Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Romana Wiedner, Mandana Gruber, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner Discovery of a novel (R)-selective bacterial cupin HNL from Acidobacterium capsulatum ATCC 51196 by a sequence-based approach Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Doris Ribitsch, Sabine Zitzenbacher, Peter Andreas Augustin, Katharina Schmoelzer, Christiane Luley, Marco Thomann, Christine Jung, Harald Sobek, Rainer Müller, Bernd Nidetzky and Helmut Schwab High-quality production of human α-2,6-sialyltransferase in Pichia pastoris requires control over N-terminal truncations by host-inherent protease activities Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Georg Steinkellner, Christian C. Gruber, Tea Pavkov-Keller, Alexandra Binter, Kerstin Steiner, Christoph Winkler, Andrzej Lyskowski, Orsolya Schwamberger, Monika Oberer, Helmut Schwab, Kurt Faber, Peter Macheroux and Karl Gruber Identification of promiscuous ene-reductase activity by mining structural databases using active site constellations Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Ahmad Mudassar, Melanie Hirz, Harald Pichler and Helmut Schwab Protein expression in Pichia pastoris: recent achievements and perspectives for heterologous protein production Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Tamara Wriessnegger, Peter Andreas Augustin, Matthias Engleder, Erich Leitner, Monika Müller, Iwona Kaluzna, Martin Schürmann, Daniel Mink, Günther Zellnig, Helmut Schwab and Harald Pichler Production of the sesquiterpenoid (+)-nootkatone by metabolic engineering of Pichia pastors Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Katharina Schmoelzer, Christiane Luley, Tibor Czabany, Doris Ribitsch, Helmut Schwab, Hansjörg Weber and Bernd Nidetzky Mechanistic study of CMP-Neu5Ac hydrolysis by α2,3-sialyltransferase from Pasteurella dagmatis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Steffen Gruber, Jeremias Hagen, Helmut Schwab and Petra Köfinger Versatile and stable vectors for efficient gene expression in Ralstonia eutropha H16 Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2013
Ivan Hajnal, Andrzej Franciszek Lyskowski, Ulf Hanefeld, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab and Kerstin Steiner Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel bacterial manganese-dependent hydroxynitrile lyase Publikation in PURE anzeigen
F.G. Eikmeyer, Petra Köfinger, Andrea Poschenel, S Jünemann, M Zakrzewski, Stefan Heinl, Elisabeth Mayrhuber, Reingard Grabherr, Alf Pühler, Helmut Schwab and Andreas Schlüter Metagenome analyses reveal the influence of the inoculant Lactobacillus buchneri CD034 on the microbial community involved in grass ensiling Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Enrique Herrero Acero, Doris Ribitsch, Anita Dellacher, Sabine Zitzenbacher, Annemarie Marold, Georg Steinkellner, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab and Georg Gübitz Surface engineering of a cutinase from Thermobifida cellulosilytica for improved polyester hydrolysis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Kateryna Fesko, Kerstin Steiner, Rolf Breinbauer, Helmut Schwab, Martin Schürmann and Gernot Strohmeier Investigation of one-enzyme systems in the w-transaminase-catalyzed synthesis of chiral amines Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Katharina Schmoelzer, Doris Ribitsch, Tibor Czabany, Christiane Luley, Deja Kokot, Andrzej Franciszek Lyskowski, Sabine Zitzenbacher, Helmut Schwab and Bernd Nidetzky Characterization of a multifunctional α2,3-sialyltransferase from Pasteurella dagmatis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Doris Ribitsch, Orcal Yebra Antonio, Sabine Zitzenbacher, Jing Wu, Susanne Nowitsch, Georg Steinkellner, Katrin Julia Greimel, Doliška Aleš, Gustav Oberdorfer, Christian Gruber, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab, Stana-Kleinschek Karin, Enrique Herrero Acero and Georg Gübitz Fusion of binding-domains to Thermobifida cellulosilytica cutinase to tune sorption characteristics and enhancing PET hydrolysis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Christine Winkler, Mudassar Ahmad, Peter Neugebauer, Helmut Schwab and Harald Pichler Probing the secretory pathway of the yeast Pichia pastorisBook of abstracts38-38 Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Tamara Wriessnegger, Anita Emmerstorfer, Monika Müller, Iwona Kaluzna, Helmut Schwab and Harald Pichler Terpenoid production in yeastsBook of abstracts26-26 Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2012
Kerstin Steiner, Andrzej Franciszek Lyskowski, Ivan Hajnal, Georg Steinkellner, Helmut Schwab and Karl Gruber Crystallization of a novel metal-containing cupin from Acidobacterium sp. and preliminary diffraction data analysis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Enrique Herrero Acero, Doris Ribitsch, Katrin Julia Greimel, Anita Dellacher, Sabine Zitzenbacher, Annemarie Marold, Rosario Diaz Rodriguez, Gibson Stephen Nyanhongo, Helmut Schwab and Georg Gübitz Two-step enzymatic functionalisation of polyamide with phenolics Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Kerstin Steiner and Helmut Schwab Recent advances in rational approaches for enzyme engineerings in rational approaches for enzyme engineering Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Zahid Hussain, Romana Wiedner, Kerstin Steiner, Tanja Hajek, Manuela Avi, Bianca Hecher, Angela Sessitsch and Helmut Schwab Characterization of two bacterial hydroxynitrile lyases with high similarity to cupin superfamily proteins Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Martin Tengg, Harald Stecher, Peter Remler, Inge Eiteljörg, Mandana Gruber and Helmut Schwab Molecular characterization of the C-Methyltransferase NovO of Streptomyces spheroides, a valuable enzyme for performing Friedel-Crafts alkylation Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Doris Ribitsch, Enrique Herrero Acero, Katrin Julia Greimel, Anita Dellacher, Sabine Zitzenbacher, Annemarie Marold, Rosario Diaz Rodriguez, Georg Steinkellner, Karl Gruber, Helmut Schwab and Georg Gübitz A New Esterase from Thermobifida halotolerans Hydrolyses Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polylactic Acid (PLA) Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Stefan Heinl, Daniel Wibberg, Felix G. Eikmeyer, Rafael Szczepanowski, Jochen Blom, Burkhard Linke, Alexander Goesmann, Reingard Grabherr, Helmut Schwab, Alfred Pühler and Andreas Schlüter Insights into the completely annotated genome of Lactobacillus buchneri CD034, a strain isolated from stable grass silage Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Andrzej Lyskowski, Martin Tengg, Georg Steinkellner, Helmut Schwab, Mandana Gruber and Karl Gruber Crystallisation of the novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine dependent C-methyltransferase CouO from Streptomyces rishiriensis and preliminary diffraction data analysis. Acta Crystallogr., Sect. F: Struct. Biol. Cryst. Commun. Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Doris Ribitsch, Enrique Herrero Acero, Katrin Julia Greimel, Inge Eiteljörg, Eva Trotscha, Giuliano Freddi, Helmut Schwab and Georg Gübitz Characterization of a new cutinase from Thermobifida alba regarding PET-surface hydrolysis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Doris Ribitsch, Sonja Heumann, W. Karl, Jochen Gerlach, R. Leber, Ruth Birner-Grünberger, Karl Gruber, Inge Eiteljörg, Peter Remler, Petra Siegert, J. Lange, Karl-Heinz Maurer, Gabriele Berg, Georg Gübitz and Helmut Schwab Extracellular serine proteases from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: screening, isolation and heterologous expression in E.coli. Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2011
Doris Ribitsch, Sonja Heumann, Eva Trotscha, Enrique Herrero Acero, Katrin Julia Greimel, Inge Eiteljörg, Peter Remler, Regina Maria Leber, Sigrid Deller, Giuliano Freddi, I. Donelli, K.H. Maurer, P. Siegert, T. Weber, Helmut Schwab and Georg Gübitz Hydrolysis of polyethyleneterephthalate by para-nitrobenzylesterase from Bacillus subtilis Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Enrique Herrero Acero, Doris Ribitsch, Georg Steinkellner, Karl Gruber, Katrin Julia Greimel, Inge Eiteljörg, Eva Trotscha, R. Wei, W. Zimmermann, M. Zinn, A. Cavaco-Paulo, G. Freddi, Helmut Schwab and Georg Gübitz Enzymatic Surface Hydrolysis of PET. Effect of Structural Diversity on Kinetic Properties of Cutinases from Thermobifida Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Andreas Küberl, Jessica Schneider, Gerhard Thallinger, Ingund Anderl, Daniel Wibberg, Tanja Hajek, Sebastian Jaenicke, Karina Brinkrolf, Alexander Goesmann, Rafael Szczepanowski, Alfred Pühler, Helmut Schwab, Anton Glieder and Harald Pichler High-quality genome sequence of Pichia pastoris CBS7435 Publikation in PURE anzeigen
2010
Doris Ribitsch, W Karl, Ruth Birner-Grünberger, Karl Gruber, Inge Eiteljörg, Peter Remler, Susanne Wieland, Petra Siegert, Karl Maurer and Helmut Schwab C-terminal truncation of a metagenome-derived detergent protease for effective expression in E. coli. Publikation in PURE anzeigen
Doris Ribitsch, W Karl, Ruth Birner-Grünberger, Karl Gruber, Inge Eiteljörg, Peter Remler, Susanne Wieland, Petra Siegert, Karl Maurer and Helmut Schwab Engineering of choline oxidase from Arthrobacter nicotianae for potential use as biological bleach in detergents. Publikation in PURE anzeigen

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Research group leader
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Robert Kourist
Univ.-Prof. Dr.rer.nat.
Office hours: Wednesday, 9:00-11:00 (room BKEG05058)