In contrast to most biotechnologists in the Midwest area who are interested in biotechnological improvements of grasses, I am interested in fruit biotechnology for phytopharmaceuticals and functional foods. I worked a while on pepper and with more success on hops (Humulus lupulus). Recently, I also became interested in betalain biosynthesis particularly in collaboration with friends in Costa Rica. In addition I cannot resist thinking about synthetic biology, smart biological machines, and biodesign. Below I give a brief description what we currently do in my lab.

The Hop Trichome Factory

Hops, or Humulus lupulus, was the medicinal plant of the year 2006 in Germany. Its medicinal value is unique and well known in the scientific community, but barely recognized by the general public. Hop makes the phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) and the anti-cancer compound Xanthohumol (XN). Both compounds have been shown to be very effective in vitro. Unfortunately, hops makes both compounds in very low amounts. Moreover, breeding and selection have not been successful in generating varieties with economically interesting levels of either compound. Therefore, we attempt to metabolically engineer the glandular trichomes of hop for enhanced production of these phytopharmaceuticals.

Under the same goal, we study environmental conditions affecting the accumulation of XN and 8-PN in vitro. We employ callus and tissue cultures and study effects of hormones and physical conditions on hop growth, in vitro multiplication, flower induction, and secondary metabolite composition.

Functional Dragonfruit

Section on Pitaya biotechnology coming soon

Plant Biobricks

Synthetic biologists aim to design biological systems with new capabilities not found in nature. By designing such systems from scratch, they hope to better understand how biological systems work. A better understanding may ultimately enable us to purposefully engineer new biological production system for applications in medicine, bioremediation, energy production, and whatever else we can imagine. And although plant systems are ideal sustainable production systems, they yet have to be explored for the design-based, synthetic approach. My newest interest lies in applying a biodesign approach to make better plants or plant products.