Dr. Alexander Steinbuchel

Biography

1975 - 1980: study of biology at the University of Göttingen with a diploma thesis at Prof. Dr. HG Schlegel 1983: Doctorate to Dr. rer. nat. at the University of Göttingen with Prof. Dr. HGG Schlegel 1985 - 1985: PostDoc at Rockefeller University, New York 1991: Habilitation for Microbiology at the University of Göttingen 1993: Call for Chair of General Microbiology at the University of Stuttgart Hohenheim (not accepted) 1994: Appointed to the chair for Microbiology at the Institute of Microbiology, University of Münster 2002 - 2005: Dean of the Faculty of Biology at WWU Münster 2005: offer of a professorship for 'Biotechnology' at the 'University of Alberta' in Edmondton in Canada.

Research Interest

The scientific investigations of the working group deal with the metabolism of biopolymers in microorganisms as well as with the formation and structure of inclusions of hydrophobic storage substances in bacterial cells. Preferably, such biopolymers and storage substances are included in the investigations, which have interesting properties and are suitable for industrial applications in industry and / or medicine. In this case, Polyesters, polythioesters, polyamides and polyisoprenoids, triglycerides and wax esters. One aim is to understand the biosynthesis of these and the compounds derived therefrom in microorganisms on a physiological, biochemical and molecular level, to identify and characterize key enzymes involved in bio-synthesis, and to use the findings to establish new or improved biotechnological production processes. In this way, contributions are to be made to be able to produce these compounds preferably from renewable raw materials or residues from industry or agriculture. In addition to the biosynthesis of the compounds mentioned, their microbial degradation is also investigated.