Ecothermodynamics / Biocalorimetry
Research Topics
Thermodynamics as a method to describe conditions and processes of complex systems offers an excellent supplement to kinetic and stoichiometric approaches, experience and intuition by well-founded scientific rules. Unfortunately, thermodynamics in ecosystems as well as in biotechnology is despite of its potential rather seldom applied.
Therefore, our group applys, develops and validates thermodynamic rules with the aims:
- to deepen insights into complex networks of both ecosystems (Microbial Ecology) and metabolisms (Biothermodynamics),
- to predict and to control the functional biodiversity (Ecological Microbiology),
- to develop ultra-sensitive real time sensors for ecosystems and biotechnology (Biocalorimetry and Impedance spectroscopy), and
- to analyse and to control complex bioprocesses in larger scale (Bioprocess control).
- to understand interactions of nanomaterial with biological material
Senior Scientist PhD and BA Students
Dr. Thore Rohwerder Kristina Vogel Anika Krämer
Prof. Hassan Al-Fathi Hieu Linh Duong
Christian Fricke
Technicians
Sven Paufler (Deputy)
Claudia Heber (Laboratory manager)
Monique Reichard (TA)
Hans Fritsche (Apprentice)
Methods
- Fermentation / reaction calorimetry - Microcalorimetry- Chip calorimetry - ITC & DSC
- Combustion calorimetry - Respirometry
- Impedance Spectroscopy - Fermentations
- Thermokinetic modelling
Selected Cooperations / Projects
Glycolysis: Thermodynamics and predictions of metabolic pathways
German Research Foundation (DFG): Cooperation project with two universities (Rostock + Dortmund)
Development of calorimetry as real time instrument to analyze and control complex environmental bioprocesses (DOCUMENT)
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): Project Based Personnel Exchange Programme (PPP) with the Chinese University of Geosciences Wuhan, China
Production of chiral R-3-hydroxyalkanoates from methylotrophic bacteria using renewable raw materials
German Federation of Industrial Research Associations "Otto von Guericke" (AiF): Co-operation project with Umwelt- und Ingenieurtechnik GmbH Dresden (UIT)
Analysis and Control of Bioprocesses in natural and technical systems using chip-calorimetry
German Federation of Industrial Research Associations "Otto von Guericke" (AiF): Co-operation project with TU Freiberg, RWTH Aachen and 7 medium sized biotech companies)
Biothermodynamic characterization and analysis of biofilms using new miniaturized chip-calorimeters
German Research Foundation (DFG): Co-operation project with TU Freiberg
10 selected publications from the last three years
Maskow, T., Rothe, A., Jakob, T., Paufler, S., Wilhelm, C. (2019) Photocalorespirometry (Photo-CR): A novel method for access to photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency. Scientific Reports 9, 9298
Zahn, M., Kurteva-Yaneva, N., Schuster, J., Krug, U., Georgi, T. Müller, R. H., Rohwerder, T., Sträter, N. (2019) Structures of 2-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid-CoA Ligase reveal determinants of substrate specificity and describe a multi-conformational catalytic cycle. Journal of Molecular Biology 431: 2747-2761
Xu, J., He, H., Wang, Y.-Y., Yan, R., Zhou, L.-J., Jiang, F.-L., Maskow, T., Liu, Y. (2018) New Aspects of the Environmental Risks of Quantum Dots: Prophage Activation. Environmental Science: Nano 5(7): 1556-1566
Russel, M., Marios, S., JiaJia, S., Xu, W., Xiao, L., Maskow, T., Alam, M.M., Georgiou, J. (2018) High-Frequency, dielectric spectroscopy for the detection of electrophysiological/biophysical differences in different bacteria types and concentrations. Analytica Chimica Acta 1010: 86-95
Xu, J., Kiesel, B., Kallies, R., Jiang, F.-L., Liu, Y., Maskow, T. (2018) A fast and reliable method for monitoring of prophage-activating chemicals. Microbial Biotechnology DOI 10.1111/1751-7915.13042
Zhou Z-Q, Yang L-Y, Yan R., Zhao J, Liu Y-Q, Lai L, Jiang F-L, Maskow T, Liu Y (2017) Mn-doped ZnSe quantum dots initiated mild and rapid cation exchange for tailoring composition and optical properties of colloid nanocrystals: novel template, new applications. Nanoscale 9(8): 2824-2835
Altwasser V, Pätz R.R., Lemke T, Paufler S,Maskow T. (2017) A simple Method for the Measurement of Metabolic Heat Production Rates during Solid-State Fermentations Using β-Carotene Production with Blakeslea trispora as a Model System. Engineering in Life Sciences 17: 620-628
Korth B, Maskow T, Picioreanu C, Harnisch F (2016) The microbial electrochemical Peltier heat: an energetic burden and engineering chance for primary microbial electrochemical technologies. Energy & Environmental Science 9:2539-2544 (IF = 25.4)
Rohde M-T, Paufler S, Harms H, Maskow T (2016) Calorespirometric Feeding Control Enhances Bioproduction from Toxic Feedstocks – Demonstration for Biopolymer Production out of Methanol. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 113(10): 2113-2121
Maskow T, Paufler S (2015) What does calorimetry and thermodynamics of living cells tell us? Methods 76: 3-10