Prof. Dr. Hajo Kries is first supervisor of DC9. Additionally, he is member of the Recruitment Committee and the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Hajo Kries (born 1983) studied biochemistry at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the University of Geneva, before completing an MSc in chemistry at ETH Zurich. He earned his PhD in 2014 from ETH Zurich under the supervision of Prof. Donald Hilvert, conducting research in enzyme design and directed evolution. Following postdoctoral research on plant biosynthesis with Prof. Sarah O’Connor at the John Innes Centre, he set up an independent junior research group at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) in Jena in 2016, specializing in the biosynthetic engineering of natural products. In 2024, he was appointed Full Professor of Technical Biochemistry at the University of Stuttgart. His research centers on the enzymology and engineering of nonribosomal peptide synthetases for developing new biocatalysts and bioactive molecules.
Key expertise
Our laboratory specialises in designing and engineering enzymes and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) in order to reveal and utilise the mechanisms of natural product biosynthesis. Our work involves evolving and tailoring enzymes with enhanced catalytic properties, elucidating the structural basis and evolutionary pathways of complex peptide assembly lines, and developing innovative biocatalytic strategies to produce novel bioactive compounds. We combine cutting-edge approaches in enzyme engineering, directed evolution and biosynthetic pathway analysis to deepen our understanding of microbial natural products and enable us to create tailored molecules with potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.
The Department of Technical Biochemistry at the University of Stuttgart provides a state-of-the-art research environment with a focus on biosynthesis and directed evolution. Our modern laboratories cover around 500 m² and feature advanced molecular biology facilities, including sterile workbenches, S1 laboratories, autoclaves, cold rooms and shaker incubators. We support high-throughput screening with 96-well plate systems and offer protein purification tools such as Äkta Pure FPLC and high-speed centrifuges. Our analytical capabilities include fluorescence plate readers, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). We also have access to shared Thermo Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry and NMR facilities for chemical synthesis. Robust IT infrastructure supports researchers by providing secure data storage, electronic lab journals, a dedicated data repository (DaRUS) and a departmental computer cluster to meet computational demands.
Hosting Institution
Founded as a polytechnic school in 1829 and evolving into a full university in 1967, the University of Stuttgart is now a globally recognized research institution. It is renowned for its interdisciplinary strengths in engineering, the natural sciences, and the humanities. As a member of the TU9 alliance — Germany’s network of leading technical universities — Stuttgart combines academic excellence with strong industry ties in the economically dynamic Baden-Württemberg region. The Faculty of Chemistry plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific knowledge by participating in significant projects funded by the German Research Foundation, such as the CRC 1333 Molecular Heterogeneous Catalysis in Confined Geometries and the Research Training Group GRK 3112 EpiSignal, a joint initiative with the University of Tübingen that focuses on chromatin modifications. With support from state-of-the-art facilities for spectroscopy, crystallography, and mass spectrometry, as well as robust regional and international research networks, the University of Stuttgart cultivates an environment that fosters innovation and prepares the next generation of leaders in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry.
Contact
Hajo.kries@ibc.uni-stuttgart.de
University of Stuttgart (UStutt)
Faculty of Chemistry
Department of Technical Biochemistry
Allmandring 31
70569 Stuttgart
Germany
https://www.ibc.uni-stuttgart.de/tbc
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=K9BxnUEAAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hajo-Kries
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4919-2811
https://mstdn.science/@KriesLab
Relevant Publications
Kries H, Trottmann F, Hertweck C. 2023. Novel Biocatalysts from Specialized Metabolism. Angew Chem Int Ed e202309284. doi:10.1002/anie.202309284
Müll M, Pourmasoumi F, Wehrhan L, Nosovska O, Stephan P, Zeihe H, Vilotijevic I, Keller BG, Kries H. 2023. Biosynthetic incorporation of fluorinated amino acids into the nonribosomal peptide gramicidin S. RSC Chem Biol 10.1039.D3CB00061C. doi:10.1039/D3CB00061C
Stephan P, Langley C, Winkler D, Basquin J, Caputi L, O’Connor SE, Kries H. 2023. Directed evolution of piperazic acid incorporation by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 62:e202304843. doi:10.1002/anie.202304843