Associated Research Groups
Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Protein Engineering
Department of Biochemistry, Physiology en Microbiology - Ghent UniversityK.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
B-9000 Ghent
Belgium
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The laboratory for protein biochemistry and protein engineering has been a pioneer in Belgium in the areas of protein and peptide primary structure analysis and mass spectrometry. Over the years the laboratory has built up a formidable array of cutting-edge equipment to ensure a competitive presence in the field. More recently, the laboratory has expanded its methodical and thematical repertoire with equal rigor and success to include X-ray crystallography, enzymology and molecular biology. This interdisciplinary academic research unit is currently thematically situated at the crossroads between biology, chemistry, biophysics and microbiology. This implies that the specific research interests of the group are equally divers. Indeed, research topics in the laboratory touch upon a number of subjects including prokaryotic respiratory metabolism, bioremediation, bacterial biofilm formation and metal reduction, protein adaptation in extremophile micro-organisms and protein carbohydrate interactions. The latter two are of particular importance to bio-energy research. Enzymes isolated from micro-organisms that thrive in harsh conditions generally are more robust themselves. Furthermore, the carbohydrate field of research is of ever increasing importance to many fields, including for the use of cellulose-containing substrates as a renewable resource.
The important emphasis of current research is establishing the relationship between protein structure and function in order to gain fundamental insight in biochemical processes. Thorough understanding of biological processes is crucial to successful implementation of biological strategies in new technological concepts.
The laboratory is interested in pursuing research in the field of bio-energy, and is committed to incorporating its expertise in basic research into projects carrying significant valorisation potential towards bio-energy.