Dr. Darja Deobald
Contact / Address:
Phone: +49 341 235-1766
Office: Building 1.0, Room 118

Curriculum Vitae
July 2024 - June 2029 | Group leader of BMBF Junior Research Group "CoMet", UFZ, Department of Molecular Environmental Biotechnology, Leipzig |
2022 - | Group leader of "Biotechnology of Metalloproteins", UFZ, Department of Molecular Environmental Biotechnology, Leipzig |
2020 - 2022 | PostDoc, UFZ, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Leipzig |
2019 - 2020 | Scientist, University of Applied Sciences, Merseburg |
2014 - 2020 | PhD in Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, PhD defense at University of Freiburg/Breisgau (summa cum laude) |
2011 - 2013 | Master in Biochemistry, University of Leipzig |
2008 - 2011 | Bachelor in Biochemistry, University of Leipzig |
Research
My research focuses on the isolation and characterization of various metalloproteins. A key area of interest is the organohalide respiration (OHR) complex from Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CBDB1, well known for its ability to reductively dehalogenate a wide range of chlorinated and brominated organohalides. Given that a [Ni-Fe] hydrogenase is part of the OHR complex, we also study diverse [Ni-Fe] hydrogenases from various organisms.
In addition, I have a long-standing passion for exploring cobalamin (B12)-dependent enzymes, a focus that began during my PhD studies. This includes work on B12-dependent methyltransferases and methyl shuttle systems as well as dehalogenases.
Our overarching goal is to gain deeper insights into the organization and function of respiratory complexes, such as the OHR complex, and other metalloproteins using a variety of biochemical approaches. These include the isolation and purification of homologous and recombinant proteins through methods like detergent solubilization, size-exclusion, anion-exchange, and affinity chromatography, as well as native-PAGE. We integrate these techniques with protein mass spectrometry and metalloproteomics to understand these systems at a molecular level.
Additionally, we investigate conserved metabolic processes in microorganisms with ancient traits, such as Dehalococcoidia. By identifying, purifying, and characterizing the proteins involved in these processes, we aim to uncover insights into the early evolution of proteins and life itself.
July 2024 - June 2029:
BMBF Junior Research Group "CoMet" by Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Grant number: 031B1507 (BioKreativ 3 - CoMet: Cobalamin-abhängige Methyltransfer-Systeme als Kataly-satoren in der chemischen Industrie“)
Volume: 2,998,459.00 Euro
Three Transfun Fundings (2022 - 2024):
Different objectives by Science and Technology Transfer Office (WTT)
Volume: 26,081.23 Euro
Since October 2021:
- Lecture series "Enzyme Technology", Winter semester, 2 SWS, 3 LP, at TU Berlin
- Co-supervision of the Practical course "Geobiotechnology / Environmental Biotechnologie", Winter semester, 3 LP
Publications
2025 (2)
- Adrian, L., Sawers, G., Deobald, D. (2025):
Organohalide respiration in Dehalococcoides strains represents a novel mode of proton motive force generation
Advances in Microbial Physiology
Adv.Microb.Physiol.
Elsevier, London, 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2024.12.001 - Romig, M., Eberwein, M., Deobald, D., Schmid, A. (2025):
Reactivation and long-term stabilization of the [NiFe] Hox hydrogenase of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 by glutathione after oxygen exposure
J. Biol. Chem. 301 (1), art. 108086 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.108086
2024 (5)
- Deobald, D., Hellmold, N., Eberwein, M., Adrian, L. (2024):
Proton motive force generation in Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CBDB1 through intracellular proton uptake during organohalide respiration
FEBS Open Bio 14 (S2), 199 - 200 10.1002/2211-5463.13837 - Eberwein, M., Deobald, D., Adrian, L. (2024):
Tapping the potential of Dehalococcoides mccartyi's respiratory complex as a 'power plant' to supply production strains with ATP
FEBS Open Bio 14 (S2), 136 - 137 10.1002/2211-5463.13837 - Eberwein, M., Hellmold, N., Frank, R., Deobald, D., Adrian, L. (2024):
Reductive dehalogenase of Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CBDB1 reduces cobalt-containing metal complexes enabling anodic respiration
Front. Microbiol. 15 , art. 1457014 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1457014 - Klaes, S., Madan, S., Deobald, D., Cooper, M., Adrian, L. (2024):
Revealing taxonomy, activity, and substrate assimilation in mixed bacterial communities by GroEL-proteotyping-based stable isotope probing
iScience 27 (12), art. 111249 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111249 - Soder-Walz, J.M., Deobald, D., Vicent, T., Marco-Urrea, E., Adrian, L. (2024):
MecE, MecB, and MecC proteins orchestrate methyl group transfer during dichloromethane fermentation
Appl. Environ. Microb. 90 (10), e00978-24 10.1128/aem.00978-24
2023 (3)
- Hellmold, N., Eberwein, M., Phan, M.H.T., Kümmel, S., Einsle, O., Deobald, D., Adrian, L. (2023):
Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CBDB1 takes up protons from the cytoplasm to reductively dehalogenate organohalides indicating a new modus of proton motive force generation
Front. Microbiol. 14 , art. 1305108 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1305108 - Klaes, S., Madan, S., Deobald, D., Cooper, M., Adrian, L. (2023):
GroEL-proteotyping of bacterial communities using tandem mass spectrometry
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24 (21), art. 15692 10.3390/ijms242115692 - Soder-Walz, J.M., Wasmund, K., Deobald, D., Vicent, T., Adrian, L., Marco-Urrea, E. (2023):
Respiratory protein interactions in Dehalobacter sp. strain 8M revealed through genomic and native proteomic analyses
Environ. Microbiol. 25 (11), 2604 - 2620 10.1111/1462-2920.16464
2022 (1)
- Deobald, D., Adrian, L. (2022):
Metallomics of the quinone-free respiration system of Dehalococcoides mccartyi indicates the presence of molybdenum, nickel, iron and cobalt in the respiratory complex
Biochim. Biophys. Acta-Bioenerg. 1863 (Suppl.), art. 148768 10.1016/j.bbabio.2022.148768
2020 (1)
- Deobald, D., Hanna, R., Shahryari, S., Layer, G., Adrian, L. (2020):
Identification and characterization of a bacterial core methionine synthase
Sci. Rep. 10 , art. 2100 10.1038/s41598-020-58873-z
2016 (1)
- Kublik, A., Deobald, D., Hartwig, S., Schiffmann, C.L., Andrades, A., von Bergen, M., Sawers, R.G., Adrian, L. (2016):
Identification of a multi-protein reductive dehalogenase complex in Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CBDB1 suggests a protein-dependent respiratory electron transport chain obviating quinone involvement
Environ. Microbiol. 18 (9), 3044 - 3056 10.1111/1462-2920.13200
Other Publications
- Deobald, D.; Adrian, L.; Schöne, C.; Rother, M. and Layer, G. (2018): Identification of a unique Radical SAM methyltransferase required for the sp3-C-methylation of an arginine residue of methyl-coenzyme M reductase, Sci. Rep., 8, 7404