Prof. Dr. Wulf Blankenfeldt

Wulf Blankenfeldt studierte Chemie an der Technischen Universität Braunschweig und promovierte über „Röntgenstrukturanalyse der Tyrosin-Aminotransferase aus Trypanosoma cruzi bei 2.5 Å Auflösung“. Nach Postdoc-Aufenthalten an der University of St. Andrews in Großbritannien und dem Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie in Dortmund leitete Wulf Blankenfeldt dort ab 2002 eine Arbeitsgruppe in der Abteilung Physikalische Biochemie.

Im Jahr 2010 ging er als Professor für Biochemie an die Universität Bayreuth, bevor er im August 2013 nach Braunschweig zurückkehrte. An der TU Braunschweig ist Wulf Blankenfeldt seitdem Professor für Strukturbiologie der Proteine und gleichzeitig Leiter der Abteilung Struktur und Funktion der Proteine am HZI.

Publikationen
Abdelsamie A.S., Hamed M.M., Schütz C., Röhrig T., Kany A.M., Schmelz S., Blankenfeldt W., Hirsch A.K.H., ... , Hartmann R.W., Empting M. (2024)
Discovery and optimization of thiazole-based quorum sensing inhibitors as potent blockers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenicity
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 276

Behlendorf C., Diwo M., Neumann-Schaal M., Fuchs M., Körner D., Jänsch L., ... , Faber F., Blankenfeldt W. (2024)
Formation of the pyruvoyl-dependent proline reductase Prd from Clostridioides difficile requires the maturation enzyme PrdH
PNAS Nexus, 3 (7)

Truthe S., Klassert T.E., Schmelz S., Jonigk D., Blankenfeldt W., Slevogt H. (2024)
Role of Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 in Inflammation and Pathogen-Associated Interactions
Journal of Innate Immunity, 16 (1)

Mingers T., Barthels S., Mass V., Acuna J.M.B., Biedendieck R., Cooke A., Dailey T.A., Gerdes S., Blankenfeldt W., Dailey H.A., Warren M.J., ... , Jahn M., Jahn D. (2024)
The alternative coproporphyrinogen III oxidase (CgoN) catalyzes the oxygen-independent conversion of coproporphyrinogen III into coproporphyrin III
Front.Microbiol., 15

Fu C., Liu Y., Walt C., Rasheed S., Bader C.D., Lukat P., Neuber M., Haeckl F.P.J., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Kalinina O.V., Müller R. (2024)
Elucidation of unusual biosynthesis and DnaN-targeting mode of action of potent anti-tuberculosis antibiotics Mycoplanecins
Nature Communications, 15 (1)

Hiller M., Diwo M., Wamp S., Gutsmann T., Lang C., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Flieger A. (2023)
Structure-function relationships underpin disulfide loop cleavage-dependent activation of Legionella pneumophila lysophospholipase A PlaA
Mol.Microbiol.

Gorelik T.E., Lukat P., Kleeberg C., Blankenfeldt W., Mueller R. (2023)
Molecular replacement for small-molecule crystal structure determination from X-ray and electron diffraction data with reduced resolution
Acta Crystallogr.A Found.Adv., 79 (6)

Kirchenwitz M., Halfen J., von Peinen K., Prettin S., Kollasser J., Zur Lage S., Blankenfeldt W., Brakebusch C., Rottner K., ... , Steffen A., Stradal T.E.B. (2023)
RhoB promotes Salmonella survival by regulating autophagy
Eur.J.Cell Biol., 102 (4)

Schwanke H., Goncalves Magalhäes V, Schmelz S., Wyler E., Hennig T., Günther T., Grundhoff A., Dölken L., Landthaler M., Van Ham M., Jänsch L., Büssow K., van den Heuvel J., Blankenfeldt W., Friedel C.C., ... , Erhard F., Brinkmann M.M. (2023)
The Cytomegalovirus M35 Protein Directly Binds to the Interferon-b[beta] Enhancer and Modulates Transcription of Ifnb1 and Other IRF3-Driven Genes
J.Virol., 97 (6)

Chen F., Yalcin I., Zhao M., Chen C., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Pessler F., Büssow K. (2023)
Amino acid positions near the active site determine the reduced activity of human ACOD1 compared to murine ACOD1
Sci.Rep., 13 (1)

Wichmann J., Mayer J., Hintmann M., Lukat P., Blankenfeldt W., Biedendieck R. (2023)
Multistep Engineering of a Penicillin G Acylase for Systematic Improvement of Crystallization Efficiency
Crystal Growth and Design, 23 (5)

Hamed M.M., Abdelsamie A.S., Rox K., Schütz C., Kany A.M., Röhrig T., Schmelz S., Blankenfeldt W., Arce-Rodriguez A., Borrero-de Acuna J.M., Jahn D., Rademacher J., Ringshausen F.C., Cramer N., Tümmler B., Hirsch A.K.H., ... , Hartmann R.W., Empting M. (2023)
Towards Translation of PqsR Inverse Agonists: From In Vitro Efficacy Optimization to In Vivo Proof-of-Principle
Adv.Sci.

Borgert S.R., Henke S., Witzgall F., Schmelz S., Zur Lage S., Hotop S.K., Stephen S., Lübken D., Krüger J., Gomez N.O., Van Ham M., Jänsch L., Kalesse M., Pich A., Brönstrup M., ... , Häußler S., Blankenfeldt W. (2022)
Moonlighting chaperone activity of the enzyme PqsE contributes to RhlR-controlled virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Nat.Commun., 13 (1)

Gorelik T.E., Tehrani K.H.M.E., Gruene T., Monecke T., Niessing D., Kaiser U., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Müller R. (2022)
Crystal structure of natural product argyrin-D determined by 3D electron diffraction
Environ.Sci.Atmos.

Chen F., Elgaher W.A.M., Winterhoff M., Büssow K., Waqas F.H., Graner E., Pires-Afonso Y., Casares Perez L., La Vega L., Sahini N., Czichon L., Zobl W., Zillinger T., Shehata M., Pleschka S., Bähre H., Falk C., Michelucci A., Schuchardt S., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Hirsch A.K.H., Pessler F. (2022)
Citraconate inhibits ACOD1 (IRG1) catalysis, reduces interferon responses and oxidative stress, and modulates inflammation and cell metabolism
Nat.Metab, 4 (5)

Gisdon F.J., Feiler C.G., Kempf O., Foerster J.M., Haiss J., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Ullmann G.M., Bombarda E. (2022)
Structural and Biophysical Analysis of the Phytochelatin-Synthase-Like Enzyme from Nostoc sp. Shows That Its Protease Activity is Sensitive to the Redox State of the Substrate
ACS Chemical Biology, 17 (4)

Staar M., Henke S., Blankenfeldt W., Schallmey A. (2022)
Biocatalytically Active and Stable Cross-Linked Enzyme Crystals of Halohydrin Dehalogenase HheG by Protein Engineering
ChemCatChem

Schütz C., Hodzic A., Hamed M., Abdelsamie A.S., Kany A.M., Bauer M., Röhrig T., Schmelz S., Scrima A., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Empting M. (2021)
Divergent synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridines as virulence-attenuating inverse agonists targeting PqsR
Eur.J.Med.Chem., 226

Höfler S., Lukat P., Blankenfeldt W., Carlomagno T. (2021)
Eukaryotic Box C/D methylation machinery has two non-symmetric protein assembly sites
Sci.Rep., 11 (1)

Schotte C., Lukat P., Deuschmann A., Blankenfeldt W., Cox R.J. (2021)
Understanding and Engineering the Stereoselectivity of Humulene Synthase
Angew.Chem.Int.Ed Engl., 60

Diwo M., Michel W., Aurass P., Kuhle-Keindorf K., Pippel J., Krausze J., Wamp S., Lang C., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Flieger A. (2021)
NAD(H)-mediated tetramerization controls the activity of Legionella pneumophila phospholipase PlaB
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A, 118 (23)

Singh K.S., Anand S., Dholpuria S., Sharma J.K., Blankenfeldt W., Shouche Y. (2021)
Antimicrobial resistance dynamics and the one-health strategy: a review
Environ.Chem.Lett.

Hendry S., Steinke S., Wittstein K., Stadler M., Harmrolfs K., Adewunmi Y., Sahukhal G., Elasri M., Thomashow L., Weller D., Mavrodi O., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Mavrodi D. (2021)
Functional Analysis of Phenazine Biosynthesis Genes in Burkholderia spp
Appl.Environ.Microbiol., 87 (11)

Schütz C., Ho D.K., Hamed M.M., Abdelsamie A.S., Röhrig T., Herr C., Kany A.M., Rox K., Schmelz S., Siebenbürger L., Wirth M., Börger C., Yahiaoui S., Bals R., Scrima A., Blankenfeldt W., Horstmann J.C., Christmann R., Murgia X., Koch M., Berwanger A., Loretz B., Hirsch A.K.H., Hartmann R.W., ... , Lehr C.M., Empting M. (2021)
A New PqsR Inverse Agonist Potentiates Tobramycin Efficacy to Eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms
Adv.Sci.

Höfler S., Lukat P., Blankenfeldt W., Carlomagno T. (2021)
High-resolution structure of eukaryotic Fibrillarin interacting with Nop56 amino-terminal domain
RNA, 27 (4)

Scheithauer L., Thiem S., Schmelz S., Dellmann A., Büssow K., Brouwer R.M.H.J., Ünal C.M., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Steinert M. (2021)
Zinc metalloprotease ProA of Legionella pneumophila increases alveolar septal thickness in human lung tissue explants by collagen IV degradation
Cell Microbiol.

Chaoprasid P., Lukat P., Mühlen S., Heidler T., Gazdag E.M., Dong S., Bi W., Rüter C., Kirchenwitz M., Steffen A., Jänsch L., Stradal T.E.B., ... , Dersch P., Blankenfeldt W. (2021)
Crystal structure of bacterial cytotoxic necrotizing factor CNF g
EMBO J, 40 (4)

Feiler C.G., Weiss M.S., Blankenfeldt W. (2020)
The hypothetical periplasmic protein PA1624 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa folds into a unique two-domain structure
Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun, 76

Bracco P., Wijma H.J., Nicolai B., Rodriguez Buitrago J.A., Klünemann T., Vila A., Schrepfer P., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Janssen D.B., Schallmey A. (2021)
CYP154C5 Regioselectivity in Steroid Hydroxylation Explored by Substrate Modifications and Protein Engineering
Chembiochem.

Rodriguez Buitrago J.A., Klünemann T., Blankenfeldt W., Schallmey A. (2020)
Expression, purification and crystal structure determination of a ferredoxin reductase from the actinobacterium Thermobifida fusca
Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun, 76

Klünemann T., Blankenfeldt W. (2020)
Structure of heme d1-free cd1 nitrite reductase NirS
Acta Crystallogr.Sect.F.Struct.Biol.Cryst.Commun., 76

Mancini F., Unver M.Y., Elgaher W.A.M., Jumde V.R., Alhayek A., Lukat P., Herrmann J., Witte M.D., Köck M., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Müller R., Hirsch A.K.H. (2020)
Protein-Templated Hit Identification via an Ugi Four-Component Reaction
Chemistry., 26 (64)

Stampfli A.R., Blankenfeldt W., Seebeck F.P. (2020)
Structural basis of ergothioneine biosynthesis
Curr.Opin.Struct.Biol., 65 (December)

Klünemann T., Henke S., Blankenfeldt W. (2020)
The crystal structure of the heme d1 biosynthesis-associated small c-type cytochrome NirC reveals mixed oligomeric states in crystallo
Acta Crystallogr.D.Struct.Biol., 76 (Pt 4)

Klünemann T., Nimtz M., Jänsch L., Layer G., Blankenfeldt W. (2021)
Crystal structure of NirF: Insights into its role in heme d1 biosynthesis
FEBS J., 188 (1)

Hercher T.W., Krausze J., Hoffmeister S., Zwerschke D., Lindel T., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Mendel R.R., Kruse T. (2020)
Insights into the Cnx1E catalyzed MPT-AMP hydrolysis
Biosci.Rep., 40 (1)

Zender M., Witzgall F., Kiefer A.F., Kirsch B., Maurer C.K., Kany A.M., Xu N., Schmelz S., Börger C., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Empting M. (2020)
Flexible Fragment Growing Boosts Potency of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence
ChemMedChem., 15 (2)

Chen F., Lukat P., Iqbal A.A., Saile K., Kaever V., van den Heuvel J., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Büssow K., Pessler F. (2019)
Crystal structure of cis-aconitate decarboxylase reveals the impact of naturally occurring human mutations on itaconate synthesis
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A, 116 (41)

Schaks M., Döring H., Kage F., Steffen A., Klünemann T., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Stradal T., Rottner K. (2021)
RhoG and Cdc42 can contribute to Rac-dependent lamellipodia formation through WAVE regulatory complex-binding
Small Gtpases., 12 (2)

Mayer J., Pippel J., Günther G., Müller C., Lauermann A., Knuuti T., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Jahn D., Biedendieck R. (2019)
Crystal structures and protein engineering of three different penicillin G acylases from Gram-positive bacteria with different thermostability
Appl.Microbiol.Biotechnol., 103 (18)

Klünemann T., Preuss A., Adamczack J., Rosa L.F.M., Harnisch F., ... , Layer G., Blankenfeldt W. (2019)
Crystal Structure of Dihydro-Heme d1 Dehydrogenase NirN from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Reveals Amino Acid Residues Essential for Catalysis
J.Mol.Biol., 431 (17)

Solarczek J., Klünemann T., Brandt F., Schrepfer P., Wolter M., Jacob C.R., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Schallmey A. (2019)
Position 123 of halohydrin dehalogenase HheG plays an important role in stability, activity, and enantioselectivity
Sci.Rep., 9 (1)

Friedel K., Popp M.A., Matern J.C.J., Gazdag E., Thiel I.V., Volkmann G., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Mootz H.D. (2019)
A functional interplay between intein and extein sequences in protein splicing compensates for the essential block B histidine
Chem.Sci., 10 (1)

Schaks M., Singh S.P., Kage F., Thomason P., Klünemann T., Steffen A., Blankenfeldt W., Stradal T.E., ... , Insall R.H., Rottner K. (2018)
Distinct Interaction Sites of Rac GTPase with WAVE Regulatory Complex Have Non-redundant Functions in Vivo
Curr.Biol., 28 (11)

Poppe J., Reichelt J., Blankenfeldt W. (2018)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyoverdine maturation enzyme PvdP has a noncanonical domain architecture and affords insight into a new subclass of tyrosinases
J.Biol.Chem., 293 (38)

Sung K.H., Josewski J., Dübel S., Blankenfeldt W., Rau U. (2018)
Structural insights into antigen recognition of an anti-beta-(1,6)-beta-(1,3)-D-glucan antibody
Sci.Rep., 8 (1)

Fiebig D., Storka J., Roeder M., Meyners C., Schmelz S., Blankenfeldt W., Scrima A., ... , Kolmar H., Fuchsbauer H.L. (2018)
Destructive twisting of neutral metalloproteases: the catalysis mechanism of the Dispase autolysis-inducing protein from Streptomyces mobaraensis DSM 40487
FEBS J., 285 (22)

Schwemmlein N., Pippel J., Gazdag E.M., Blankenfeldt W. (2018)
Crystal structures of R-type bacteriocin sheath and tube proteins CD1363 and CD1364 from Clostridium difficile in the pre-assembled state
Front.Microbiol., 9 (AUG)

Witzgall F., Depke T., Hoffmann M., Empting M., Brönstrup M., ... , Müller R., Blankenfeldt W. (2018)
The Alkylquinolone Repertoire of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is linked to Structural Flexibility of the FabH-like PQS Biosynthesis Enzyme PqsBC
Chembiochem.

Krausze J., Hercher T.W., Zwerschke D., Kirk M.L., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Mendel R.R., Kruse T. (2018)
The functional principle of eukaryotic molybdenum insertases
Biochem.J., 475 (10)

Misson L., Burn R., Vit A., Hildesheim J., Beliaeva M.A., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Seebeck F.P. (2018)
Inhibition and Regulation of the Ergothioneine Biosynthetic Methyltransferase EgtD
ACS Chem.Biol., 13 (5)

Sung K.H., Berkhan G., Hollmann T., Wagner L., Blankenfeldt W., Hahn F. (2018)
Insights into the Dual Activity of a Bifunctional Dehydratase-Cyclase Domain
Angew.Chem.Int.Ed., 57 (1)

Koopmeiners J., Diederich C., Solarczek J., Voß H., Mayer J., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Schallmey A. (2017)
HheG, a halohydrin dehalogenase with activity on cyclic epoxides
ACS Catal., 7 (10)

Lukat P., Katsuyama Y., Wenzel S., Binz T., Konig C., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Brönstrup M., Müller R. (2017)
Biosynthesis of methyl-proline containing griselimycins, natural products with anti-tuberculosis activity
Chem.Sci., 8 (11)

Von Tesmar A., Hoffmann M., Pippel J., Fayad A.A., Dausend-Werner S., Bauer A., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Müller R. (2017)
Total Biosynthesis of the Pyrrolo[4,2]benzodiazepine Scaffold Tomaymycin on an In Vitro Reconstituted NRPS System
Cell Chem.Biol., 24 (10)

Witzgall F., Ewert W., Blankenfeldt W. (2017)
Structures of the N-terminal domain of PqsA in complex with anthraniloyl- and 6-fluoroanthraniloyl-AMP: substrate activation in Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS) biosynthesis
Chembiochem., 18 (20)

Diederich C., Leypold M., Culka M., Weber H., Breinbauer R., ... , Ullmann G.M., Blankenfeldt W. (2017)
Mechanisms and Specificity of Phenazine Biosynthesis Protein PhzF
Sci.Rep., 7 (1)

Bock T., Luxenburger E., Hoffmann J., Schutza V., Feiler C., ... , Müller R., Blankenfeldt W. (2017)
AibA/AibB Induces an Intramolecular Decarboxylation in Isovalerate Biosynthesis by Myxococcus xanthus
Angew.Chem.Int.Ed Engl.

Dolan S.K., Bock T., Hering V., Owens R.A., Jones G.W., ... , Blankenfeldt W., Doyle S. (2017)
Structural, mechanistic and functional insight into gliotoxin bis-thiomethylation in Aspergillus fumigatus
Open Biol., 7 (2)

Guttenberger N., Blankenfeldt W., Breinbauer R. (2017)
Recent developments in the isolation, biological function, biosynthesis, and synthesis of phenazine natural products
Bioorg.Med.Chem., 25 (22)

Bock T., Volz C., Hering V., Scrima A., Müller R., Blankenfeldt W. (2016)
The AibR-isovaleryl coenzyme A regulator and its DNA binding site - a model for the regulation of alternative de novo isovaleryl coenzyme A biosynthesis in Myxococcus xanthus
Nucleic Acids Res, 45 (4)

Bock T., Müller R., Blankenfeldt W. (2016)
Crystal structure of AibC, a reductase involved in alternative de novo isovaleryl coenzyme A biosynthesis in Myxococcus xanthus
Acta Crystallogr.F Struct.Biol.Commun., 72 (Pt 8)

Füller J.J., Röpke R., Krausze J., Rennhack K.E., Daniel N.P., Blankenfeldt W., Schulz S., ... , Jahn D., Moser J. (2016)
Biosynthesis of Violacein: Structure and Function of L-Tryptophan Oxidase VioA from Chromobacterium violaceum
J Biol.Chem., 291 (38)

Bock T., Reichelt J., Müller R., Blankenfeldt W. (2016)
The structure of LiuC, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaconyl CoA dehydratase involved in isovaleryl CoA biosynthesis in Myxococcus xanthus, reveals insights into specificity and catalysis
ChemBioChem, 17

Bock T., Kasten J., Müller R., Blankenfeldt W. (2016)
Crystal structure of the HMG-CoA synthase MvaS from the Gram-negative bacterium Myxococcus xanthus
ChemBioChem, 17 (13)

Zender M., Witzgall F., Drees S.L., Weidel E., Maurer C.K., Fetzner S., Blankenfeldt W., ... , Empting M., Hartmann R.W. (2016)
Dissecting the Multiple Roles of PqsE in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence by Discovery of Small Tool Compounds
ACS Chem.Biol., 11 (6)

Diederich C., Leypold M., Breinbauer R., Blankenfeldt W. (2016)
Aus zwei mach eins: die Biosynthese der Phenazine
Biospektrum, 22 (2)

Vit A., Mashabela G.T., Blankenfeldt W., Seebeck F.P. (2015)
Structure of the Ergothioneine-Biosynthesis Amidohydrolase EgtC
ChemBioChem, 16 (10)

Goncharenko K.V., Vit A., Blankenfeldt W., Seebeck F.P. (2015)
Structure of the Sulfoxide Synthase EgtB from the Ergothioneine Biosynthetic Pathway
Angew.Chem.Int.Ed Engl., 54 (9)

Vit A., Misson L., Blankenfeldt W., Seebeck F.P. (2014)
Ergothioneine Biosynthetic Methyltransferase EgtD Reveals the Structural Basis of Aromatic Amino Acid Betaine Biosynthesis
ChemBioChem, 16

Blankenfeldt Wulf, Parsons J.F. (2014)
The structural biology of phenazine biosynthesis
Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 29C

Vit A., Misson L., Blankenfeldt Wulf, Seebeck F.P. (2014)
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the ergothioneine-biosynthetic methyltransferase EgtD
Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 70 (Pt 5)

Yu S., Jensen V., Seeliger J., Feldmann I., Weber S., Schleicher E., ... , Häußler Susanne*, Blankenfeldt W. (2009)
Structure elucidation and preliminary assessment of hydrolase activity of PqsE, the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) response protein
Biochemistry, 48 (43)

Nowicki C., Hunter G.R., Montemartini-Kalisz M., Blankenfeldt W., Hecht H., Kalisz H.M. (2001)
Recombinant tyrosine aminotransferase from Trypanosoma cruzi: structural characterization and site directed mutagenesis of a broad substrate specificity enzyme
Biochimica et biophysica acta, 1546 (2)