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Fakultät Bio- und Chemieingenieurwesen

MSc Jan Dominic Graw

E-Mail: Jan Dominic Graw

Lehrstuhl Technische Biochemie

Emil-Figge-Str. 66, Raum G1-6.13

44227 Dortmund

Tel.: +49 231 755 7491

Jan Graw © Jörg Fischer​/​TU Dortmund

Field of research

Biotechnological production of vitamin D in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin belonging to the secosteroid family. This vitamin plays an essential role in the bone and non-skeletal health of the human body (Faustino R Pérez-López, 2007, Rosen CJ et al., 2012). It is also associated with cancer immune responses, promoting the differentiation of monocytes and inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation (André G. Uitterlinden, 2011).

Exposure to sunlight (UV-B radiation) is crucial for natural production of vitamin D3 in the human body. If this is not possible due to circumstances, dietary intake is necessary.

The objective of my research is to identify an alternative method of producing vitamin D3 through the utilization of the host organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Consequently, the genes responsible for the production of vitamin D in vertebrates will be introduced into yeast cells. During this process, I will also establish methods for the extraction and analysis of sterolic compounds, employing LC/MS measurements for the detection and quantification of these compounds.