The DK - Molecular Enzymology is a joint international biomolecular PhD program of 15 research groups from the following two universities: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (KFUG), Technische Universität Graz (TUG)
The DK is affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the KFUG and the Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology of the TU Graz. It is designed to act as an academic complement to existing biomolecular large-scale research networks, such as the SFB Biomembranes, the Kplus Center Applied Biocatalysis and the GENAU-network GOLD: Genomics of Lipid-Associated Disorders.
The aim of the international PhD program in Molecular Enzymology is to provide outstanding scientific training to exceptional young scientists in different areas of the molecular biosciences, including bioorganic chemistry. The interdisciplinarity of the program includes extensive training activities in addition to the project-related PhD research. The laboratory work will be supplemented by seminars, local and international laboratory training courses, and participation in international conferences.
Research Topics:
- the discovery of enzymes
- the molecular structure of enzymes
- the cellular and metabolic function of enzymes
- the biotechnological exploitation of enzymes
PhD Projects:
- Cell biology of neutral lipid formation and mobilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- Lipid assembly in peroxisomal membranes
- Role of yeast TAG lipases in sphingolipid metabolism
- Expression of oxidative enzyme libraries in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
- Alternative oxidases: Elucidation of structural and functional differences between plants and fungi
- Application of lyases to the enantioselective formation of novel C-C bonds
- Molecular identification of lipases in murine bile
- Structure, mechansim and use of bacterial azoreductases
- Structure-Function studies on berberine bridging enzyme (BBE) from the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
- The glycogen phosphorylase from Sulfolobus solfataricus
- Aldo-keto reductases from the hyperthermophlic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus
- Engineering of enzymes for improved enantioselectivity