A Sustainable Release System to Produce More Healthy Food with Less Pesticide

In the Leibniz transfer project Green-Protect, expertise from materials science, chemistry and biotechnology is being brought together to find new solutions for reducing the use of fungicides and herbicides in agriculture. To achieve this, biodegradable active ingredient containers, known as microgels, will be developed that can be loaded with fertilizers or pesticides and allow targeted release of these compounds to the desired plant organs. In this way, the amount of active substances and the required application cycles can be significantly reduced. Once the scientific concepts have been secured, technology transfer through to commercial implementation is planned.

Utilization and Development of Machine Learning for Molecular Applications – Molecular Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is indisputably among the fastest developing and most demanded topics of our time. Our goal is to develop and apply modern ML algorithms in their entire range to molecular problems. In the future, molecular machine learning should use generative models to suggest molecules with specific properties and activities, develop and optimize reactions independently, and evaluate and interpret analytical data within seconds. The applications developed should be converted in easy-to-use software suites and experimental scientists should be trained on them. Thus, this priority program will help to modernize an entire subject area. To achieve this, it is necessary to unite existing innovative efforts in the fields of biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and pharmacy. This program will fulfill the AI strategy of the federal government and can establish Germany internationally as a leading location for molecular machine learning.

Subproject at IPB:
Machine learning approaches for faster discovery and adaptation of enzymes for difficult chemical reactions (MacBioSyn). Part I: providing solutions for regioselective oxygenations by 2OGD oxidases
Biocatalytic synthesis of chemicals is considered a keystone for future green and sustainable chemistry. However, its power is far from being realized today in industry, mainly because of the limited activity or diversity of accessible enzymes. 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (2OGD) proteins are an under-researched family of enzymes which catalyze “tricky” oxidative reactions (e.g., oxyfunctionalization of non-activated carbons, demethylations), which are challenging or cannot be performed using traditional chemosynthesis. Thus, 2OGD proteins have the high potential to revolutionize the industry as a regio- and product-specific “alternative to chemistry”. Identifying new representatives of this large family having, e.g., increased substrate scope can offer a new range of biocatalytic routes to, e.g., natural products. In the MacBioSyn project, we aim to develop (a general, high-throughput (HT)) ML-based framework (deep learning, active learning, reinforcement learning) that predicts the activity of enzymes and their substrate / reaction scope. We will implement a new in silico framework for the analysis of enzyme sequences/substrates pairs based on ML models trained on screening results by a synergistic approach, combining the interdisciplinary expertise of computational design / modeling (Davari) with HT enzyme characterization (Dippe/Wessjohann). To establish this platform, we will focus on 2OGD enzymes as proof-of-concept biocatalysts.

The interaction of plants with microorganisms can be beneficial or devastating. Symbiotic interactions improve nutrient supply, plant health and yield, whereas pathogenic interactions can lead to complete yield loss. Investment into sustainable science-based improvement of plant health is thus imperative. LMU Munich, TU Munich and EKU Tübingen have established three internationally visible competence centers on biotic interactions of plants. By bringing these hotspots together, we will create the synergistic TRR356 Genetic diversity shaping biotic interactions of plants (PlantMicrobe), with the long-term vision to improve plant health with novel genetic resources, protocols and tools.

The physical contact zone between host plants and infecting microbes is subject to continuous molecular communication leading to rapid evolution and co-evolution of infection and defence strategies. The actors determining the outcome of this encounter - comprising chemical signals, nutrient flows, interfering macromolecules, and/or toxins – carry the molecular signatures of such co-evolution. The resulting diversity of genetic determinants shaping the biotic interactions of plants is a valuable, yet underutilised, resource facilitating the discovery of novel genes and their variants, and the understanding of their function and their targeted utilisation for optimisation of symbiosis and pathogen defence.

Subproject at IPB
Receptor-like kinases are modular proteins that enable plant cells to monitor and react to their environment. At least three distinct Arabidopsis SymRK Homologous Receptor-like Kinase (AtSHRK) paralogs are involved in the interaction with the obligate biotrophic opomycete and causative agent of downy mildew disease Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. In this project, we will explore the mechanistic details and functional diversification of SHRK signalling in downy mildew disease and other biotic interactions. Overall, we expect to illuminate common and distinct signalling mechanisms of SHRKs and increase our understanding of their role in plant-microbe interactions.

South American Nothofagaceae forests harbour unique, endemic tree species, representing the oldest lineages of Nothofagus evolution. Ectomycorrhizal fungi co‐evolve with the associated plant partner, but mutualistic fungi are still widely under‐explored in these areas. Our previous studies demonstrated that diversity of unknown dermocyboid Cortinarii is high there, and is reflected in high chemotype (pigment) diversity. Pigments of dermocyboid Cortinarius species are based on (pre)anthraquinones, one of the most promising classes of natural photosensitizer. A systematic study of the photobiological active pigments is needed to understand the ecological function of such pigments. A thorough taxonomical investigation is essential, because chemical and pharmacological analyses must be based on unambiguously defined taxa and clearly identified vouchers.

Linking biological diversity to diversity of compounds and function is a straightforward approach, allowing for an efficient and successful discovery of new species, new compounds, and new PSs. Molecular network analyses are used as highly innovative metabolomic-taxonomical tool, and will be tested based on a multi-gene phylogeny and classical morphological methods. This will contribute to fill blank spaces in basal Cortinarius lineages on a global scale, and contribute to understanding of secondary metabolite evolution. New pigments will be discovered, isolated, and identified. Photoactive pigments are tested for biological activity with a focus on targeted light activation.

The GLACIER multidisciplinary consortium aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases and the development of new vaccines and therapies. It also aims to improve crisis preparedness, response and post-crisis care. GLACIER is operated under the joint leadership of the the Institute of Virology at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Institute of Medical Immunology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in association with the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB). Central partner institutions in Central America are the region's leading universities, the University of Havana (UH) and the Independent National University of Mexico (UNAM), each of which will host central research and training laboratories. The international and transdisciplinary dimension of pandemic preparedness and response will also be strengthened by 35 partners in a total of 8 Central American countries and five additional expert groups from Germany. GLACIER aims to work towards strengthening capacities in the Latin American region by (i) serving as a think tank supporting a multidisciplinary network of institutions in 8 Central American countries, (ii) helping to build local research capacity, (iii) increasing the number of well-trained experts/scientists and trainers, and (iv) engaging regional and international policy makers, enabling information dissemination and faster regional crisis response.

Key Actions:

• Development of a One Health Summer School
• Establishment of real laboratories in Mexico and Cuba
• Doctoral and research residencies and bilateral doctoral programs
• Establishment of a database tool for surveillance and bioactives
• Development of a seminar series on interdisciplinary approaches to the treatment and control of infectious diseases
• Development of teaching modules on anti-infective treatment strategies and bio-social analysis of infectious disea

The scientific vision of the RTG BEyond AMphiphilicity (BEAM) is to extend the concept of amphiphilicity to achieve structuring soft matter through non-covalent interactions and a quantitative description that reconciles the static thermodynamics and a dynamic molecular view on soft matter. For the first time, a set of measurable physico-chemical quantities shall be defined and used to address the molecular interactions and the structural and dynamic phenomena which lead to thermodynamic features associated with the terms philicity and phobicity. We will go beyond elementary thermodynamic aspects such as miscibilities and partition coefficients: the combination into multiple interaction patterns combining amphiphilicity with physical (attractive, repulsive) or effective interactions within a single molecule together with the creation of order in the presence of dynamics (translations, rotations and conformational motions) shall be developed further.

The scientific focus of the new Research Training Group (RTG) 2498 centers on the dynamic interplay of plant cell compartments, such as plastids and nuclei, which are key factors defining the properties of plant cells. The unifying research hypothesis is that the control of key physiological processes during plant development or environmental adaptation involves the coordinated action of organelles. The RTG focuses on processes that functionally link plastids, nuclei and selected other important cell compartments to address the fundamental question of how plant organelles communicate and dynamically associate depending on changing cellular requirements. By focusing on processes that functionally link two or more organelles, we take a necessary step towards understanding the mutual dependency of subcellular compartments with key roles in plant cell physiology.

The research topic of interacting organelles is ideal to promote cooperative research between the groups, as the interdependencies between the organelles are unraveled. The qualification program for the PhD-students of this RTG maximizes their exposure to different experimental approaches, which are pursued by the cooperating research groups. The broad range of alternative experimental approaches is complemented by additional Science Training Courses and Complementary Activities, which will help the PhD-students to develop their scientific profiles and shape their professional personalities. Efficient and successful research will be enabled through support and supervision of the PhD-students by Thesis Committees and their involvement in regular progress and literature seminars, both as participants and co-organizers.

Approximately 40% of amino acid sequences in higher eukaryotes are predicted to be intrinsically disordered (intrinsically disordered proteins, IDPs and intrinsically disordered regions, IDRs) lacking defined structural elements. Many of these flexible proteins, and protein regions, have remained understudied so far. This is despite their importance in regulating fundamental biological processes and in the generation of dynamic architectural superstructures, including, e.g., membrane-less organelles.

Building on the productive history of molecular protein research in Halle/Saale, the planned RTG, IDPs/IDRs will be investigated by an interdisciplinary group of research scientists composed of biochemists, biophysicists, and cell biologists. The complementary scientific expertise will enable studies ranging from the in vitro characterization of IDPs/IDRs to their investigation within cells. A major focus will be the study of IDP/IDR interactions with proteins as well as RNA. All of the planned RTG projects will address key questions on the molecular processes that govern how a single IDP/IDR might adopt multiple conformations upon protein- or RNA-binding. The RTG will go beyond a mere elucidation of physical and functional interactions of individual protein-protein and RNA-protein complexes and deduce novel mechanistic insights that will increase our understanding of intrinsically disordered structures in cellular systems and within organisms.

The RTG will provide a broad spectrum of internationally competitive research training, a wide repertoire of current methods, and career coaching. In addition to benefitting from a series of high-quality lectures and workshops by leading IDP researchers, students will also be trained in how to interact productively within multidisciplinary teams and to communicate their research to different audiences.