Postdoc
Joined the lab: February 2025
Background and Current Projects:
I performed my Bachelor, Master and doctoral studies in Biochemistry at the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, and graduated in Oct. 2023 with Summa cum Laude. During this time, I specialized in enzymology and biocatalysis while gaining expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics as well as in the analytic of small molecules. I approach scientific questions with a molecular view and consider myself rather a biological chemist than a chemical biologist.
With my research, I want to advance green technologies and contribute to a better future. Therefore, I always chose my research projects to advance the understanding of biocatalyst and improve their application for sustainable processes. During my doctoral studies, I reprogrammed Rhodococcus cells and engineered flavoenzymes to build a cell factory for the utilization of plant biomass and the production polymer precursors. The project was enabled by a scholarship of the German Environmental Foundation (DBU) and conducted in the lab of Prof. Tischler (Microbial Biotechnology). Afterwards, I was engaged in the startup company “H2Cell” to produce green hydrogen enzymatically.
In my current position, I focus on the recycling of human-made polymers. So-called “Plastizymes” are hydrolytic biocatalysts with the ability to cleave the chemical bonds present in PET, polyurethan or nylon. As these polymers are rather new to nature, biological systems did not have the time to adapt to these compounds. Here, directed evolution of enzymes plays a key role to generate efficient biocatalysts. With my research, I like to answer the fundamental question which characteristics make an enzyme a Plastizyme to pave the way for rational enzyme design. For this, I will apply high throughput enzymology using droplet microfluidics, phylogenetic analyses and bioinformatic methods.
Interests: Apart from science, I am highly interested in fitness training and running. To relax after work, I enjoy a good book or podcast.
Publications
[13] D. Eggerichs, H. G. Weddeling, L. Alvigini, T. Rapsch, N. Weindorf, A. Mattevi, D. Tischler, Kinetic and structural investigation of the 4-allyl syringol oxidase from Streptomyces cavernae, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (2025), 765, 110320. Link
[12] T. B. Guerriere, A. Vancheri, I. Ricotti, S. A. Serapian, D. Eggerichs, D. Tischler, G. Colombo, M. L. Mascotti, M. W. Fraaije, A. Mattevi, Dehydrogenase versus oxidase function: the interplay between substrate binding and flavin microenvironment, ACS Catalysis (2025), 15, 1046-1060. Link
[11] D. Eggerichs, N. Weindorf, H. G. Weddeling, I. M. Van der Linden, D. Tischler, Substrate scope expansion of 4-phenol oxidases by rational enzyme selection and sequence-function relations, Communications Chemistry (2024), 7.1, 123. Link
[10] D. Eggerichs, N. Weindorf, M. L. Mascotti, N. Welzel, M. W. Fraaije, D. Tischler, Vanillyl alcohol oxidase from Diplodia corticola: Residues Ala420 and Glu466 allow for efficient catalysis of syringyl derivatives, Journal of Biological Chemistry (2023) 299.7, 104898. Link
[9] D. Eggerichs, K. Zilske, D. Tischler, Large scale production of vanillin using an eugenol oxidase from Nocardioidessp. YR527, Molecular Catalysis (2023) 546, 113277. Link
[8] D. Eggerichs, D. Tischler, Amino Acid Cluster Analysis (A2CA), Science Data Bank (2023). Link
[7] J. Kratky, D. Eggerichs, T. Heine, S. Hofmann, P. Sowa, R.H. Weiße, D. Tischler, N. Sträter, Structural and mechanistical studies on substrate and stereo selectivity of the indole monooxygenase VpIndA1: New avenues for biocatalytic epoxidations and sulfoxidations, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2023), e202300657. Link
[6] C.E. Paul, D. Eggerichs, A.H. Westphal, D. Tischler, W.J.H. van Berkel, Flavoprotein monooxygenases: Versatile biocatalysts, Biotechnology Advances (2021), 51, 107712. Link
[5] K.I. Arend, J.J. Schmidt, T. Bentler, C. Lüchtefeld, D. Eggerichs, H.M. Hexamer, C. Kaimer, Myxococcus xanthuspredation of Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria is mediated by different bacteriolytic mechanisms, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2021), 5, 87. Link
[4] D. Tischler, A. Kumpf, D. Eggerichs, T. Heine, Styrene monooxygenases, indole monooxygenases and related flavoproteins applied in bioremediation and biocatalysis, The Enzymes, Academic Press (2020), 47, 399-425. Link
[3] D. Eggerichs, C. Mügge, J. Mayweg, U.-P. Apfel, D. Tischler, Enantioselective epoxidation by flavoprotein monooxygenases supported by organic solvents, Catalysts (2020), 5.10, 568. Link
[2] D. Tischler, E. Gädke, D. Eggerichs, A. Gomez Baraibar, C. Mügge, A. Scholtissek, C.E. Paul, Asymmetric reduction of (R)‐carvone through a thermostable and organic‐solvent‐tolerant ene‐reductase, ChemBioChem (2019), 21, 1217. Link
[1] D. Eggerichs, A.C. Lienkamp, T. Heine, C. Mügge, D. Tischler, Chirale Epoxidierung von Aryl-Alkyl-Ethern aus Lignin, Biospektrum (2019) 6.25, 680-682. Link
