Principles of Natural Product Biosynthesis: New Insights

Evi Stegmann
Microbial Bioactive Compounds, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT), University of Tuebingen

Natural products represent a major source of biologically active molecules and continue to provide valuable leads for drug discovery. Their remarkable structural diversity originates from complex biosynthetic pathways encoded in microbial genomes, many of which remain poorly understood. Recent advances in molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, structural biology, and artificial intelligence provide unprecedented opportunities to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying natural product biosynthesis and diversification.

A growing body of evidence indicates that natural product biosynthesis is governed by highly organized molecular networks. Studies addressing biosynthetic gene cluster function, pathway elucidation, enzyme-enzyme communication, biosynthetic complex assembly, and transport processes reveal an intricate level of coordination that extends far beyond the activity of individual enzymes. New insights into the spatial organization of biosynthetic machineries are reshaping current concepts of how complex bioactive molecules are produced in microbial cells and provide new opportunities to harness microbial biosynthetic potential.

Coffee will be served prior to the lecture.

Contact Thomas Tørring (thomast@bce.au.dk, +45 61718186)