Roelfes Group
@roelfesgroup.bsky.social
Interdisciplinary group at the University of Groningen @rug.nl working on Artificial Enzymes, Bioorthogonal Catalysis and Chemistry in Living Cells. Posts by group members.
https://sites.google.com/rug.nl/roelfesgroup/
https://sites.google.com/rug.nl/roelfesgroup/
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Last week I have defended my PhD in the beautiful Aula of the @rug.nl with a thesis entitled "Mapping the Sequence Landscape of an Artificial Enzyme". Such a huge diploma is proportionate to the immensely beautiful experience behind a PhD in the @roelfesgroup.bsky.social. Thank you very much to all!
November 11, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Last week I have defended my PhD in the beautiful Aula of the @rug.nl with a thesis entitled "Mapping the Sequence Landscape of an Artificial Enzyme". Such a huge diploma is proportionate to the immensely beautiful experience behind a PhD in the @roelfesgroup.bsky.social. Thank you very much to all!
Reposted by Roelfes Group
October 15, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Roelfes Group
📢📢 New paper out!
AI and networks can be used to predict distal mutations in proteins, even in artificial enzymes!
Check out the article here
----‐> doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
Thread 1/5 🧵
AI and networks can be used to predict distal mutations in proteins, even in artificial enzymes!
Check out the article here
----‐> doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
Thread 1/5 🧵
August 8, 2025 at 10:43 AM
📢📢 New paper out!
AI and networks can be used to predict distal mutations in proteins, even in artificial enzymes!
Check out the article here
----‐> doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
Thread 1/5 🧵
AI and networks can be used to predict distal mutations in proteins, even in artificial enzymes!
Check out the article here
----‐> doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
Thread 1/5 🧵
Reposted by Roelfes Group
With #PFAS and other organofluorides wreaking havoc, we set out to engineer natural defluorinases for man-made organofluorides. All credit goes to the amazing @suzannejansen.bsky.social, who has outdone herself in this project! (1/5)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Engineering fluoroacetate dehalogenase by growth-based selections to degrade non-natural organofluorides
The widespread use of organofluorides in modern society has inadvertently led to the bioaccumulation of harmful pollutants, most prominently per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). In princi...
www.biorxiv.org
July 17, 2025 at 8:51 AM
With #PFAS and other organofluorides wreaking havoc, we set out to engineer natural defluorinases for man-made organofluorides. All credit goes to the amazing @suzannejansen.bsky.social, who has outdone herself in this project! (1/5)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Our postdoc @francdefel.bsky.social just gave a fantastic talk on gold-based artificial metalloenzymes for asymmetric catalysis. #Biotrans2025
@stratinghinst.bsky.social @rug.nl
@stratinghinst.bsky.social @rug.nl
July 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Our postdoc @francdefel.bsky.social just gave a fantastic talk on gold-based artificial metalloenzymes for asymmetric catalysis. #Biotrans2025
@stratinghinst.bsky.social @rug.nl
@stratinghinst.bsky.social @rug.nl
#Biotrans2025 Gerard just gave an overview on recent advances in non-canonical amino acids application for novel artificial (metallo)enzymes from our group.
July 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
#Biotrans2025 Gerard just gave an overview on recent advances in non-canonical amino acids application for novel artificial (metallo)enzymes from our group.
#RepArtZymes pre-conference in Basel also brought together some of our old and current group members.
@zhizhou1619.bsky.social @reubenlg.bsky.social
@zhizhou1619.bsky.social @reubenlg.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
#RepArtZymes pre-conference in Basel also brought together some of our old and current group members.
@zhizhou1619.bsky.social @reubenlg.bsky.social
@zhizhou1619.bsky.social @reubenlg.bsky.social
Our group members are attending #RepArtZymes Biotrans 2025 pre-conference. Gerard just presented our work on Artificial Metalloenzymes Featuring Thiol-Based Amino Acids. Compliments to the organisers #WardGroup for the fantastic program and a great get-together of the key players in our field.
June 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Our group members are attending #RepArtZymes Biotrans 2025 pre-conference. Gerard just presented our work on Artificial Metalloenzymes Featuring Thiol-Based Amino Acids. Compliments to the organisers #WardGroup for the fantastic program and a great get-together of the key players in our field.
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Great experience at the Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference! Amazing time around a neat program.
Extremely grateful for giving me the chance to share my work in an environment that pushes towards sustainable research
#GreenChemistry #MSCA
@acsgci.bsky.social @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
Extremely grateful for giving me the chance to share my work in an environment that pushes towards sustainable research
#GreenChemistry #MSCA
@acsgci.bsky.social @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Great experience at the Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference! Amazing time around a neat program.
Extremely grateful for giving me the chance to share my work in an environment that pushes towards sustainable research
#GreenChemistry #MSCA
@acsgci.bsky.social @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
Extremely grateful for giving me the chance to share my work in an environment that pushes towards sustainable research
#GreenChemistry #MSCA
@acsgci.bsky.social @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
📢📢📢 PhD Opportunity!
Join our research group at RUG! We're seeking a motivated PhD student for a project on biocatalytic cascade processes combining natural and designer enzymes, supported by machine learning.
Click below to learn more — and feel free to share!
sites.google.com/rug.nl/roelf...
Join our research group at RUG! We're seeking a motivated PhD student for a project on biocatalytic cascade processes combining natural and designer enzymes, supported by machine learning.
Click below to learn more — and feel free to share!
sites.google.com/rug.nl/roelf...
Roelfes group - Open Positions
PhD position on Hybrid biocatalytic cascades aided by Machine learning (1.0 FTE)
sites.google.com
May 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
📢📢📢 PhD Opportunity!
Join our research group at RUG! We're seeking a motivated PhD student for a project on biocatalytic cascade processes combining natural and designer enzymes, supported by machine learning.
Click below to learn more — and feel free to share!
sites.google.com/rug.nl/roelf...
Join our research group at RUG! We're seeking a motivated PhD student for a project on biocatalytic cascade processes combining natural and designer enzymes, supported by machine learning.
Click below to learn more — and feel free to share!
sites.google.com/rug.nl/roelf...
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Very proud to share that one of my main PhD projects has been published in @chemicalscience.rsc.org, and that it has been selected as a #ChemSciPicks of the week paper!
Keep reading below for more details, or check out the full paper for free online: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
Thread ⬇️
Keep reading below for more details, or check out the full paper for free online: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
Thread ⬇️
Check out this week’s #ChemSciPicks from Gerard Roelfes (@roelfesgroup.bsky.social, @stratinghinst.bsky.social) et al.!
‘Genetically Encoded 3-Aminotyrosine as Catalytic Residue in a Designer Friedel-Crafts Alkylase’
Read it here for free: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
#ChemSky 🧪
‘Genetically Encoded 3-Aminotyrosine as Catalytic Residue in a Designer Friedel-Crafts Alkylase’
Read it here for free: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
#ChemSky 🧪
April 23, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Very proud to share that one of my main PhD projects has been published in @chemicalscience.rsc.org, and that it has been selected as a #ChemSciPicks of the week paper!
Keep reading below for more details, or check out the full paper for free online: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
Thread ⬇️
Keep reading below for more details, or check out the full paper for free online: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
Thread ⬇️
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Check out this week’s #ChemSciPicks from Gerard Roelfes (@roelfesgroup.bsky.social, @stratinghinst.bsky.social) et al.!
‘Genetically Encoded 3-Aminotyrosine as Catalytic Residue in a Designer Friedel-Crafts Alkylase’
Read it here for free: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
#ChemSky 🧪
‘Genetically Encoded 3-Aminotyrosine as Catalytic Residue in a Designer Friedel-Crafts Alkylase’
Read it here for free: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
#ChemSky 🧪
April 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Check out this week’s #ChemSciPicks from Gerard Roelfes (@roelfesgroup.bsky.social, @stratinghinst.bsky.social) et al.!
‘Genetically Encoded 3-Aminotyrosine as Catalytic Residue in a Designer Friedel-Crafts Alkylase’
Read it here for free: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
#ChemSky 🧪
‘Genetically Encoded 3-Aminotyrosine as Catalytic Residue in a Designer Friedel-Crafts Alkylase’
Read it here for free: doi.org/10.1039/D5SC...
#ChemSky 🧪
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Had an amazing week at #ACSSpring2025! It was an intense but incredibly rewarding experience with top speakers and insightful discussions. I'm grateful for the opportunity to present my research in the biocatalysis session - awesome interaction! #MSCA @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Had an amazing week at #ACSSpring2025! It was an intense but incredibly rewarding experience with top speakers and insightful discussions. I'm grateful for the opportunity to present my research in the biocatalysis session - awesome interaction! #MSCA @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Had an amazing week at the MetRaZymes @metrazymes.bsky.social Winter School in Hirschegg, Austria! It was a pleasure to learn, share, and connect with fellow researchers in our doctoral network. We organized and attended insightful lectures and workshops on ⬇️🧵
March 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Had an amazing week at the MetRaZymes @metrazymes.bsky.social Winter School in Hirschegg, Austria! It was a pleasure to learn, share, and connect with fellow researchers in our doctoral network. We organized and attended insightful lectures and workshops on ⬇️🧵
Reposted by Roelfes Group
We are announcing about 30 PhD positions in the @fwf-at.bsky.social Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering www.circularbioengineering.at/jobs
9 projects open in Progamme 2 (Self-Sustainable Microbial Systems) in 4 Austrian Universities
9 projects open in Progamme 2 (Self-Sustainable Microbial Systems) in 4 Austrian Universities
March 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
We are announcing about 30 PhD positions in the @fwf-at.bsky.social Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering www.circularbioengineering.at/jobs
9 projects open in Progamme 2 (Self-Sustainable Microbial Systems) in 4 Austrian Universities
9 projects open in Progamme 2 (Self-Sustainable Microbial Systems) in 4 Austrian Universities
Huge congratulations to our former PhD student Reuben @reubenlg.bsky.social on winning the KNCV-DCS Thesis Award from the Dutch Catalysis Society for his outstanding PhD research in our group! A well-deserved recognition of his hard work and dedication. 🎉
March 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Huge congratulations to our former PhD student Reuben @reubenlg.bsky.social on winning the KNCV-DCS Thesis Award from the Dutch Catalysis Society for his outstanding PhD research in our group! A well-deserved recognition of his hard work and dedication. 🎉
Our group members Tanja and Franco @francdefel.bsky.social presented their exciting research at NCCC this week.
Franco talked about his work on asymmetric catalysis in gold-based artificial metalloenzymes.
Franco talked about his work on asymmetric catalysis in gold-based artificial metalloenzymes.
March 11, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Our group members Tanja and Franco @francdefel.bsky.social presented their exciting research at NCCC this week.
Franco talked about his work on asymmetric catalysis in gold-based artificial metalloenzymes.
Franco talked about his work on asymmetric catalysis in gold-based artificial metalloenzymes.
Our latest publication is out in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social!
We generated and engineered a novel artificial metalloenzyme for the enantioselective synthesis of a panel of γ-nitro-carbonyl compounds on a preparative scale.
We generated and engineered a novel artificial metalloenzyme for the enantioselective synthesis of a panel of γ-nitro-carbonyl compounds on a preparative scale.
February 14, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Our latest publication is out in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social!
We generated and engineered a novel artificial metalloenzyme for the enantioselective synthesis of a panel of γ-nitro-carbonyl compounds on a preparative scale.
We generated and engineered a novel artificial metalloenzyme for the enantioselective synthesis of a panel of γ-nitro-carbonyl compounds on a preparative scale.
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Grateful to be part of this awesome project lead by @brouwerb.bsky.social. Take a look to our preprint about unlocking iminium ion catalysis when using amino-tyrosine as a genetically encoded amino acid! 🤓
#MSCA @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
#MSCA @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
Check out our latest preprint, in which we demonstrate the first example of using noncanonical 3-aminotyrosine (aY) as a catalytic residue for iminium activation in a designer enzyme!
Thread ⬇️
Thread ⬇️
February 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Grateful to be part of this awesome project lead by @brouwerb.bsky.social. Take a look to our preprint about unlocking iminium ion catalysis when using amino-tyrosine as a genetically encoded amino acid! 🤓
#MSCA @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
#MSCA @roelfesgroup.bsky.social
Reposted by Roelfes Group
Check out our latest preprint, in which we demonstrate the first example of using noncanonical 3-aminotyrosine (aY) as a catalytic residue for iminium activation in a designer enzyme!
Thread ⬇️
Thread ⬇️
February 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Check out our latest preprint, in which we demonstrate the first example of using noncanonical 3-aminotyrosine (aY) as a catalytic residue for iminium activation in a designer enzyme!
Thread ⬇️
Thread ⬇️
Check out our latest work where we combined mutagenesis, crystallography, and computational approaches to uncover the evolutionary specialization of a promiscuous designer enzyme. Kudos to @reubenlg.bsky.social and the entire team!
Find more details in the thread below:
Find more details in the thread below:
Very happy to see that our latest paper just appeared online in ACS Catalysis. Two directed evolution campaigns of an artificial enzyme from @roelfesgroup.bsky.social found that just 3 mutations could specialise it towards each of its promiscuous activities.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.4c06409
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.4c06409
Evolutionary Specialization of a Promiscuous Designer Enzyme
The evolution of a promiscuous enzyme for its various activities often results in catalytically specialized variants. This is an important natural mechanism to ensure the proper functioning of natural...
pubs.acs.org
January 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Check out our latest work where we combined mutagenesis, crystallography, and computational approaches to uncover the evolutionary specialization of a promiscuous designer enzyme. Kudos to @reubenlg.bsky.social and the entire team!
Find more details in the thread below:
Find more details in the thread below:
Fantastic start of 2025 for the group. Our own Lars Longwitz won the @unigroningen.bsky.social FSE Postdoc prize for 2024. This prize celebrates his excellence in research and great potential of becoming a scientific leader. Well well deserved Lars! 👏
@stratinghinst.bsky.social
@stratinghinst.bsky.social
January 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Fantastic start of 2025 for the group. Our own Lars Longwitz won the @unigroningen.bsky.social FSE Postdoc prize for 2024. This prize celebrates his excellence in research and great potential of becoming a scientific leader. Well well deserved Lars! 👏
@stratinghinst.bsky.social
@stratinghinst.bsky.social
Season's greetings from Roelfes and Mayer groups! Wishing our colleagues, collaborators, and the entire community a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year ahead! 🎉🎄✨🧪
December 23, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Season's greetings from Roelfes and Mayer groups! Wishing our colleagues, collaborators, and the entire community a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year ahead! 🎉🎄✨🧪
We are thrilled to share our new noble-metal enzyme design approach. We used the in-vivo incorporation of a noble-metal-binding ligand for ArM design to bridge the versatility of noble metals with the catalytic power of enzymes.
Thread ⬇️
Thread ⬇️
December 6, 2024 at 9:34 AM
We are thrilled to share our new noble-metal enzyme design approach. We used the in-vivo incorporation of a noble-metal-binding ligand for ArM design to bridge the versatility of noble metals with the catalytic power of enzymes.
Thread ⬇️
Thread ⬇️
We are delighted to introduce our new Boron Designer Enzyme for the kinetic resolution of α-hydroxythioesters. For this activity, the noncanonical amino acid and a natural lysine residue have to work together to form a Hybrid Catalytic Dyad!
December 5, 2024 at 6:51 PM
We are delighted to introduce our new Boron Designer Enzyme for the kinetic resolution of α-hydroxythioesters. For this activity, the noncanonical amino acid and a natural lysine residue have to work together to form a Hybrid Catalytic Dyad!