Dr. Roland Müller
Contact/Address
Dr. Roland Müller
Scientist
Department of Environmental Microbiology
Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research - UFZ
Permoserstr. 15
04318 Leipzig, Germany
Phone: +49 341 235 1337
Fax: +49 341 235 1351
r.mueller@ufz.de
CV / Scientific Career
1967 - 1969
Study of biology, University of Leipzig
1969-1972
Study of biochemistry, University of Leipzig
1972
Diploma, subject: Proteolytic activity in the brain areas of the optical system of the rat
1973 - 1974
Military service
1979
PhD, Academy of Sciences of the GDR
subject: Regulation and mechanism of the 3-hexulosephosphate synthase, comparative investigations with methylotrophic bacteria and specificity of the enzyme of methanol-utilizing species
1985-1991
Scientist at the Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology, Leipzig
since 1992
UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Head of working group
Research interests
Research is directed on elucidation and characterization of the metabolic performances of microorganisms, especially those which are involved in the degradation of pollutants and in the formation of products. Topics extent from fundamental research up to actual pollution problems, the combination of both aimed at getting practical solutions in decontamination. Investigations were performed on both an enzymatic and a cellular level. Experimental and theoretical approaches are applied to define limits in metabolic performances, elucidate bottlenecks in degrading/converting compounds and show measures to overcome limitations and limits in order to optimize processes.
Current Research
Role of key enzymes
- Enzymatics of the substrate- and stereospecific degradation of phenoxyalkanoate-herbizides
- Limiting steps in the microbial productive degradation of herbicides and herbicide mixtures and measures for overcoming limitations, role of catalysis and transport function
Mechanisms of adaptation and survival strategies
- Growth and maintenance coefficient under conditions of extremely limited substrate supply
- Opening up of new carbon and energy sources by mutative response, extension of metabolic performances by enforced evolution
- Opening up of new carbon and energy sources by mutative response, extension of metabolic performances by enforced evolution
- Kinetics and energetics of induction processes in correlation to the toxicity of compounds
Metabolic performances
- Microbial degradation of the fuel additive methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE), screening of microbial strains, characterization of metabolic performances and defining limiting steps; application of strains in decontamination processes
- Regio- and stereospecific substrate conversion by microbial activity for syntheses of active agents and precursors (in preparation)
- Application of enzymatic activities in industrial and agricultural processes (in preparation)
