Start of the Third Funding Phase for Marine Proteomics Research at the University of Greifswald

Polysaccharide-degrading bacteria (green) on the diatom Chaetoceros sp. – photo: I. Bakenhus / Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen
Polysaccharide-degrading bacteria (green) on the diatom Chaetoceros sp. – photo: I. Bakenhus / Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen

Seasonal algal blooms in the world’s oceans produce huge amounts of biomass that are recycled very quickly by marine bacteria - a degrading process that plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. This process is dominated by the very diverse structure of the algae’s polysaccharides, which are amongst nature’s most complex biomolecules. These marine polysaccharides are at the centre of attention of the POMPU research unit. One single bacteria is not able to utilise the complex mix of marine algae polysaccharides by itself; a broad network of degradation pathways and enzymes is required. Nature has established a community of various bacteria that work hand in hand and use complex metabolic pathways to perform this task.

In order to gain a better understanding of the microbes’ enzymatic strategies for degrading sugar, the researchers take samples of sea water during the algal blooms. The aim is to determine all of the genomes and proteins of marine bacterial communities, to elucidate the details of their enzymatic functions and to investigate the bacteria’s specific adaptation mechanisms.

‘The two-year extension of the DFG Research Unit POMPU helps to elucidate important ecological functions of marine bacteria during various stages of algal blooms and thus to gain knowledge about the function of the seas as the ‘biological pump’ during times of global warming,’ says a delighted Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder from the University of Greifswald’s Institute of Pharmacy and spokesperson of the consortium. Co-spokesperson Prof. Dr. Rudolf Amann from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology adds: ‘If the understanding of the function of marine bacteria and enzymes can be improved, new perspectives could be revealed for using the promising potential of marine polysaccharides from algae in a targeted biotechnological manner.’

Further information

POMPU Project

Partners in the Research Unit FOR 2406
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder, University of Greifswald
Co-spokespersons: Prof. Dr. Rudolf Amann, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Prof. Dr. Dörte Becher, University of Greifswald
Prof. Dr. Uwe Bornscheuer, University of Greifswald 
PD Dr. Bernhard M. Fuchs, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Prof. Dr. Jens Harder, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Prof. Dr. Jan-Hendrik Hehemann, MARUM - Center für Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen
PD Dr. Katharina Hoff, University of Greifswald
Dr. Hanno Teeling, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Media Photo [de]


Contact at the University of Greifswald 
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Institute of Pharmacy
Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 3, 17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49 3834 420 4212
schwederuni-greifswaldde

Contact at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Amann
Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen
Tel.: +3834 2028 9300
ramannmpi-bremende


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