Section I: Biofunctional Systems Chemistry
![[Translate to Englisch:] Grafik: Biofunktionale Systemchemie [Translate to Englisch:] Sektion 1](fileadmin/images/Forschung/180225_lsb_forschung_sektion_collage_01.jpg)
Under the leadership of Professor Dr. Thomas Hofmann, Research Section I focuses on Biosystems Chemistry & Metabolism (Professor Dr. Thomas Hofmann), Sensory Systems Chemistry (PD Dr. Martin Steinhaus), and Functional Biopolymer Chemistry (PD Dr. Katharina Scherf):
- Development of methods to identify and quantify functional effector systems for the objective evaluation of the sensory and nutritional quality and safety of food.
- Elucidation of structure-dose-function-relationships in molecular effector systems in plant and animal-derived food for the objective assessment of the influence of raw materials (breeding, growing, feeding and availability of alternative raw materials), processing conditions, and storage on the sensory and nutritional food quality (e. g. aroma, taste, bioactive micro-nutrients) as well as on the safety for consumers [e.g. celiac disease].
- Discovery of molecular reaction cascades, which transform functional effector systems during processing and storage of food and impact the sensory and nutritional quality as well as safety of food.
- Development and application of methods to elucidate metabolic transformations and biological functions of effector systems after their intake.
The research program provides valuable insights into the structure-dose-function-relationships of functional effector systems in food and contributes significantly to the quality assurance and safety of food.