Dr Bernd Rehm
Professor of Microbiology

Background

MSc (1991), PhD (1993), Postdoctoral Associate (1994) Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany; DFG Postdoctoral and Research Grant Fellow (1994-96) University of British Columbia, Canada; Habilitation in Microbiology (1996-2001), Research Group Leader (2001-2003) University of Münster, Germany; Associate Professor (2004-2005) Massey University, New Zealand

Research interests

My research focuses on microbial biosynthesis of polymers and biosurfactants as well as on the self-organisation biological nanostructures produced by microorganisms. The biosynthesis of alginates, polyhydroxyalkanoates (bioplastics, biopolyester) and rhamnolipids and the formation of intracellular polymer granules are investigated. These studies involve the application of a broad spectrum of imaging techniques as well as different analytical methods including the identification and molecular characterization of biosynthesis genes and their gene products.

Bionanotechnology

Bionanotechnology is an emerging multidisciplinary field fusing nanotechnology with biology. Current research is aiming to provide insight into the underlying basic science of the self-organisation of biological nanostructures produced by microorganisms. This knowledge will enable engineering of microorganisms as well as relevant proteins to produce biogenic nanodevices with potential for applications in medicine, biotechnology, and diagnostics.

Biopolymers (Alginate, Polyhydroxyalkanoate)

Key biosynthesis enzymes and proteins involved in biopolymer formation are currently investigated with respect to their catalytic mechanism/function and are subjected to directed evolution as well as protein design in order to obtain enzymes with improved and new properties. Molecular modelling approaches are employed in order to design experiments for structure function analysis. In addition biosynthesis pathways are investigated and metabolic engineering is applied.

Final aims of these studies are the understanding of the biological function of these biopolymers and the biotechnological production of novel biopolymers, which can be used as e.g. biomaterials for medical applications. Moreover, biosynthesis enzymes of virulence factor are evaluated as targets for antimicrobial therapy.

Biosurfactants (Rhamnolipids)

Current research aims to shed light on biosynthesis and biological function of rhamnolipids, which are involved in biofilm formation.

Biofilms

The function of various biopolymers in microbial biofilm formation is of particular interest. How various exopolymers contribute to cell attachment and biofilm architecture as well as the regulation of biopolymer synthesis genes are currently under investigation.

The Rehm Group

All Scientific Publication

Editorial board member

1. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (USA)
2. Biotechnology Letters (UK)
3. Journal of Bio-based Materials and Bioenergy (USA)
4. Research Journal of Microbiology (USA),
5. Current Proteomics (USA)
6. Biotechnology (Asia),
7. Journal of Microbiology (Asia)
8. The Open Proteomics Journal (USA)

Edited books

Further Information

Further Information

Further Information

Selected publications

• Peters, V., Rehm, B.H.A., (2008) Protein engineering of streptavidin for in vivo assembly of streptavidin beads. J. Biotech., in press.
• Campisano, A., Overhage, J., Rehm, B.H.A. (2008) The polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis genes are differentially regulated in planktonic and biofilm grown Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Biotech., 133:442-452
• Grage, K., Rehm, B.H.A. (2008) In vivo production of scFv-displaying biopolymer beads using a self-assembly promoting fusion partner. Bioconjug. Chem., 19:254-262.
• Peters, V., Becher, D., Rehm, B.H.A. (2007) The inherent property of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase to form spherical PHA granules at the cell poles: The core region is required for polar localization. J. Biotech 132:238-245.
• Baeckstroem, T.B, Brockelbank, J.A. Rehm, B.H.A. (2007) Recombinant Escherichia coli produces tailor-made biopolyester granules for applications in fluorescence activated cell sorting: Functional display of the mouse interleukin-2 and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. BMC Biotechnology 7:3.
• Brockelbank, J.A, Peters, V., Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) Recombinant Escherichia coli produces ZZ domain displaying biopolyester granules suitable for IgG purification. Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 72(11):7394-7397.
• Remminghorst, U., Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) Alg44 is a unique protein required for alginate biosynthesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, FEBS Letters 580: 3883–3888
• Campisano, A. Schroeder, C., Schemionek, M., Overhage, J. & Rehm B.H.A. (2006) PsID is a secreted protein required for biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 3066-3068
• Gutsche, J., Remminghorst, U. & Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) Biochemical analysis of alginate biosynthesis protein AlgX from Pseudomanas aeruginosa: Purification of an AlgX-MucD (AlgY) protein complex. Biochimie 88:245-251
• Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) Genetics and biochemistry of polyhydroxyalkanoate granule self-assembly: The key role of polyester synthases, Biotechnol. Lett. 28:207-213
• Peters, V. & Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) In vivo enzyme immobilization by use of engineered polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 1777-1783
• Remminghorst, U., Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) In vitro alginate polymerization and functional role of Alg8 in alginate production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Appl. Environ. Mircrobiol. 72: 298-305
• Overhage, J., Schemionek, M., Webb, J.S., Rehm, B.H.A. (2005) Expression of the psl operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms: PslA performs an essential function in biofilm formation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71:4407-4413
• Peters, V., Rehm, B.H.A. (2005) In vivo monitoring of PHA granule formation using GFP-labeled PHA synthase. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 248:93-100
• Mirshafiey, A., Borzooy, Z., Abhari, R.S., Razavi, A., Tavangar, M., Rehm, B.H.A. (2005) Treatment of experimental immune complex glomerulonephritis by sodium alginate. Vascul. Pharmacol. 43:30-35
• Pham, T.H., Webb, J.S., Rehm, B.H.A. (2004) The role of polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in rhamnolipid and alginate production as well as stress tolerance and biofilm formation. Microbiology 150: 3405-3413
• Hofmann, N., Rehm, B.H.A. (2004) Regulation of polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aerugionsa and Peudomonas putida. FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 237:1-7
• Amara, A., Rehm, B.H.A (2003) Replacement of the catalytic nucleophile cysteine-296 by serine in class II polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated synthesis of a new polyester: Identification of catalytic residues. Biochem. J. 374:413-421
• Hoffmann, N., Amara, A.A., Br. Beermann, B., Qi, Q., Hinz, H.-J., Rehm, B.H.A. (2002) Biochemical characterization of the Pseudomonas putida transacylase which diverts intermediates of fatty acid de novo biosynthesis. J. Biol. Chem, 277:42926-42936
• Qi, Q., Rehm, B.H.A.(2001) Polyhydroxybutyrate biosynthesis by Caulobacter crescentus: Physiology and molecular characterization of the polyhydroxybutyrate synthase. Microbiology, 147: 3353-3358
• Rehm, B.H.A., Krüger, N., Steinbüchel, A. (1998) A new metabolic link between fatty acid de novo synthesis and polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthesis in Pseudomonas putida . J. Biol. Chem. 273:24044-24051
• Rehm, B.H.A. (1996) The Azotobacter vinelandii gene algJ encodes an outer membrane protein presumably involved in export of alginate. Microbiology 142 :873-880
• Rehm, B.H.A. and R.E.W. Hancock. (1996). Membrane topology of the outer membrane protein OprH from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: PCR-mediated site specific insertion and deletion mutagenesis. J. Bacteriol. 178 :3346-3349
• Rehm, B.H.A., Ertesvåg, H., Valla, S. (1996) A new Azotobacter vinelandii mannuronan C-5-epimerase gene (alg G) is part of an alg gene cluster physically organized in a manner similar to that in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 178:5884-5889
• Rehm, B.H.A., Boheim, G., Tommassen, J. & Winkler, U.K. (1994) Overexpression of algE in Escherichia coli: subcellular localization, purification, and ion channel properties. J. Bacteriol. 176: 5639-5647

Selected reviews

• Rehm, B.H.A. (2007) Biogenesis of Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoate Granules: a Platform Technology for the Production of Tailor-made Bioparticles; Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 9: 41-62.
• Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) Biopolyester particles produced by microbes and their potential applications. In Microbial Bionanotechnology: Biological self-assembly systems and biopolymer-based nanostructures; ed. Bernd H.A. Rehm; Horizon Bioscience, 1:1-34
• Salzig, M. & Rehm, B.H.A. (2006) Microbial production of alginate: Self-assembly and functionilisation. In Microbial Bionanotechnology: Biological self-assembly systems and biopolymer-based nanostructrues; ed Bernd H.A. Rehm; Horizon Bioscience, 6:125-152
• Rehm, B.H.A., Reinecke, F. (2005) Bioinformatic tools for gene and protein sequence analysis. In The Molecular Biomethods Handbook; Eds. John Walker and Ralph Rapley: Humana Press 28:387-407.
• Rehm, B.H.A. (2005) Biosynthesis and applications of alginates. In Encyclopedia of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; Eds Gary Wnek and Gary Bowlin; Marcel Dekker Inc., page 1-9
• Rehm, B.H.A (2003) Polyester synthases: Natural catalysts for plastics. Biochem. J. 376:15-33.
• Rehm, B.H.A. (2001) Bioinformatics: Tools for DNA/protein sequence analysis, functional assignment of genes and classification of proteins. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 57: 579-592
• Rehm, B.H.A. and S. Valla. (1997) Bacterial alginates: biosynthesis and applications. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 48:281-288.