Terpenoids: Bioactive and high-value natural products

Plants are capable of producing an overwhelming variety of specialised metabolites. Among those, terpenoids represent the by far most complex and structurally diverse class. These natural products fulfil a broad range of biological functions in plants, such as in development, defence and communication.

 

Our plants of interest often have a long history in traditional medicine and ethnobotany. The range of pharmacological activities is incredibly diverse. Terpenoids are for example used for effective treatment of cancer and malaria. Other terpenoid-based biopharmaceuticals have analgesic, antimicrobial and antifungal, contraceptive as well as psychoactive properties.

Our research focuses on high-value terpenoids with pharmacological or biological activity, yet with limited natural sources.

 

The terpenoid research group aims at

(1) elucidation of the terpenoid biosynthesis and turn-over in plants. Read more about the projects: 

• Sesquiterpenoids - Biosynthesis and Applied combinatorial biochemistry
• Diterpenoids from medicinal plant species, discovery of the plant pathways and building of the biosynthetic toolbox for metabolic engineering of biotechnological production platforms
• Triterpenoid saponins as defense compounds of winter cress against herbivorous insects

(2) establishment of engineered platforms for sustainable production of economically important terpenoids in microbial hosts or moss. Read more about the projects: 

• Sustainable Production of Thapsigargin using Light (SPOTLight)
• Expression of plant diterpenoid pathways in a biotechnological plant host with ”clean” biochemical background

Student projects 

Potential students at BSc, MSc or PhD level are welcome to contact us to to talk about ideas for projects.

 

For ideas please read suggestions for BSc, MSc and PhD projects within terpenoid research.