News & Events 2026

My Linkedin post (March 18, 2026): New Frontiers in Starch Degradation: From My Early Work on Glucan Lyase to Today’s Microbial Innovations:
Over the past decades, starch biochemistry has evolved far beyond classical amylohydrolases (amylases). When I began working on glucan lyase, we opened a completely new pathway in starch conversion (the Anhydrofructose Pathway) — one that bypassed glucose and maltose entirely and produced 1,5‑anhydro‑D‑fructose through a unique β‑elimination mechanism (see figure below). That discovery reshaped how we think about starch transformation.
Today, three major developments are redefining the field:
1️⃣ Glucan Lyase — A Conceptual Shift I Was Proud to Contribute To:
Glucan lyase remains one of the most unusual starch‑active enzymes ever described. Unlike hydrolases, it performs a lytic cleavage of α‑1,4‑glucans, generating 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose, a precursor for antioxidants and bioactive compounds.
From mechanistic elucidation to microbial sources and biotechnological applications, I’ve been fortunate to contribute 48 publications to this field (thanks to all my collaborators!)— helping establish glucan lyase as a distinct and valuable biocatalyst.
2️⃣ Polysaccharide Monooxygenases (AA13 LPMOs) — Oxidative Starch Cleavage:
A major breakthrough of the last decade is the discovery of AA13 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, which oxidatively cleave starch. As highlighted in the figure below, these enzymes: introduce oxidative cuts into starch polymers open crystalline or recalcitrant regions, act synergistically with classical amylases. This represents a fundamental shift: starch degradation is no longer viewed as purely hydrolytic. LPMOs expand the enzymatic “toolbox” and are now recognized as part of the emerging starch‑active enzyme system.
3️⃣ The Amylosome — A Multi‑Enzyme Machine for Resistant Starch
Perhaps the most fascinating recent discovery is the amylosome of Ruminococcus bromii, as a multi‑protein extracellular complex specialized for degrading resistant starch. Its key components include:
Sas6 and Sas20, starch‑binding proteins with CBM26 and CBM74 modules,
Amy4 and Amy16, synergistic amylases that attack semi‑crystalline granules.
🌟 Looking Ahead
From glucan lyases to monooxygenases, and to amylosome multi‑enzyme complexes, the field is apparently moving toward a richer, more mechanistically diverse understanding of starch biotransformation. It will certainly have impacts in diverse fields.

My Linkedin post: A friend recently posed a thoughtful challenge to me:
“You’ve spent decades at a leading industrial enzyme company and developed many enzymes. But aren’t most of them just variants of known ones—new versions of existing molecules rather than truly new discoveries?”
A fair observation—and in many cases, true, I replied.
But it’s not the whole picture, added I:
Alongside the iterative innovation that drives much of industrial biotechnology, I’ve also had the rare privilege of uncovering several enzymes that were genuinely new to science, including:
• α‑1,4‑Glucan Lyase (from the red alga Gracilaria) • Aldos‑2‑ulose Dehydratase (from the fungus Anthracobia) • 1,5‑Anhydro‑D‑fructose Dehydratase (from the fungus Morchella) • Ascopyrone Tautomerase (from the fungus Anthracobia) • Ochratoxinase, a novel amidohydrolase (from Aspergillus) (IUBMB Life, 60(12): 798–809, 2008).
Equally meaningful was the opportunity I had to name these enzymes according to Enzyme Commission principles—and to see those names adopted by the scientific community. Posted FEb. 2026

My Linkedin Post on Starch and Starch hydrolases (Part 1): Starch, the major carbohydrate in plant‑based foods, is a glucose polymer composed of two structural forms: amylose, a mostly linear chain of glucose units linked by α‑1,4‑glucosidic bonds, and amylopectin, a branched polymer containing both α‑1,4‑ and α‑1,6‑glucosidic linkages. Together, these two polymers define the functional and nutritional behavior of starch.
Complete conversion of starch into glucose is far from trivial. Because of its mixed linkage types and complex branching, full hydrolysis may require the coordinated action of up to eight different hydrolases—including α‑amylase, β‑amylase, glucoamylase, pullulanase, isoamylase, maltogenic amylase, maltase, and α‑glucosidase—each targeting specific bonds or structural features within the starch granule. Posted Feb. 2026

Give seminar at LTH (Lund Univ. Sweden) on Feb. 02. It was a real pleasure to visit the Division of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology at Lund University and gave my seminar, “Synthetic Biology: Successful Stories, Learning and Future Perspective.”
Warm thanks to Prof. Rajni Hatti-Kaul for the invitation and to Dr Roya Sardari for the smooth arrangements. I was especially happy that Dr. Ed van Niel, a long‑time friend, presided over the seminar.
The best part was the deep, engaging discussions afterward with Prof. Rajni Hatti-Kaul and Prof. Carl Grey—conversations that reminded me why this field continues to inspire me.
Returning to this division felt special in a very personal way. This is where I began my journey as an adjunct professor, a role I held for six years while working full‑time at DuPont. Walking back into the corridors and greeting former colleagues brought back many warm memories.
Thank you to everyone who made this visit meaningful. I left with both gratitude and renewed energy.

It was a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues across Northern Europe and to introduce the Simulated Digestion System to additional feed mills and integrators.

What really stood out this year was the strong focus and energy around feed enzymes, feed efficacy, and animal health & welfare. These were not just agenda items, but central themes shaping meaningful, forward-looking discussions between farmers and leading suppliers. For detail of this visit, see my linkedIn

Sweden: It was a great pleasure to visit two highly innovative companies — BPC Instruments AB and Robust Seed Technology A&F AB. Both are true leaders in their respective fields, and both proudly rooted in Lund, Skåne.