The primary goal of this research is to deepen our understanding of substrate-enzyme interactions in Glycoside hydrolases. For this purpose, Bacillus circulans xylanase (BcX) has been selected as a well-established model to examine the Michaelis complex and glycosyl-enzyme adduct.

This thesis investigates the relations between metabolism and anatomy through the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Generatieve AI biedt journalisten nieuwe mogelijkheden voor beeldgebruik, maar roept ook ethische vragen op.

Onderzoekers van de faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen werken elke dag aan de grenzen van het weten en aan oplossingen voor de maatschappelijke uitdagingen van nu. Hiervoor ontvangen zij subsidies, prijzen en andere onderscheidingen. Wij zetten hen in de schijnwerpers.

Ook in 2020 hebben veel van onze medewerkers en studenten mooie prijzen gewonnen en belangrijke onderzoekssubsidies binnengehaald.

In 2021 hebben veel van onze medewerkers en studenten mooie prijzen gewonnen en belangrijke onderzoekssubsidies binnengehaald. Traditioneel blikken we aan het einde van het jaar en bij de start van het nieuwe jaar terug op deze successen.

Een belangrijke puzzel in de astrochemie is opgelost: theoretisch chemici en astronomen zijn erin geslaagd te bepalen hoe ze met methanol magneetvelden in de ruimte kunnen meten. Dit geeft een nieuwe methode om de geboorte van sterren en planeten te onderzoeken. De onderzoekers, onder wie Leids hoogleraar…

Digitale voortgangstoetsing als didactische methodiek.

Hij praat snel en enthousiast. Logisch, want Gerard van Westen is als de machinist op een heel snelle trein. Het eindstation: een virtuele mens, bestaand uit algoritmen die voorspellen wat een toegediende stof doet in ons lichaam. De trein is al een heel eind op weg. De farmaceutische industrie is ook…

Betekenisvol scheikundeonderwijs

Kunstmatige fotosynthese heeft als doel om via chemische processen zonne-energie om te zettn in brandstof. Semi-kunstmatige fotosynthese is een hybride aanpak waarbij chemische maar ook biotechnologische processen worden gebruikt. Wij hebben als doel om een hybride systeem te ontwikkelen met behulp…

De Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen heeft verschillende studieverenigingen, die zowel studiegerelateerde als sociale activiteiten organiseren voor studenten.

Decentralized plug and play systems for energy production are the future picture of our society. Artificial photosynthetic systems are used for this purpose.

Carbohydrates, or sugars, are the most diverse and most abundant biomolecules known. However, the isolation of carbohydrate samples in sufficient amounts and purity is often impractical or even impossible, so the chemical synthesis of glycosides becomes relevant. The glycosylation reaction, in which…

Promotor: G.A. van der Marel, Co-promotor: D.C. Codée

This thesis describes biochemical investigations of glucocerebrosidase (GBA), the lysosomal β- glucosidase that is deficient in Gaucher disease (GD).

The long-held desire - to link structure directly to function and to explain molecular mechanisms based on basic chemical or physical principles - is finally coming closer, satisfying not only our scientific curiosity but also offering new solutions to the many challenges in the field of health, energy…

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotor: L. Juurlink

Despite the fact that gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are one of the most studied nanoparticles, there is still a necessity for new approaches allowing for effective protective coating to enable wider use of GNPs in biomedical applications.

Curved single crystals provide variable, but well-defined surface structures.

Cathodic corrosion is a relatively unknown phenomenon that can severely etch metallic electrodes at cathodic (negative) potentials.

The research described in this thesis centered on retaining exo-β-glucosidases implicated in health and disease, in particular the human inherited lysosomal storage disorder, Gaucher disease (GD).

This work describes the use of click-to-release chemistry to get spatiotemporal control over immunocytokine activity. Until now, immunocytokines (cytokines coupled to a tumor-targeting-moiety) remained active throughout the body, being able to bind their respective receptors, causing mild to severe…

Promotor: H.S. Overkleeft, Co-promotor: M. van der Stelt

In this dissertation, the synthesis and characterization of a series of iron complexes based on different ligand platforms are described.

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-Promotor: L.B.F. Juurlink

Heterogeneous catalysis is essential to many industrial applications. These catalysts are often comprised of supported nanoparticles, which contain various different surface sites.

Diacylglycerol lipases (DAGLα and DAGLβ) are responsible for the biosynthesis of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the brain and peripheral tissues. Selective DAGLβ inhibitors have been proposed as a potential treatment for inflammatory diseases with reduced potential for central…

In the last decade, the redox interconversion between metal thiolate and disulfide compounds has been extensively investigated for copper, but not for other transition metal ions.

Voltammetry plays a crucial role in modern scientific research by offering valuable insights into the electrochemical properties of materials, with wide-ranging applications in fields such as materials science, energy storage, corrosion studies, and sensor development.

Promotor: A. Kros

Global healthcare is on the verge of an antibiotic availability crisis as bacteria have evolved resistance to nearly all known antibacterials. Identifying new antibiotics that operate via novel modes-of-action is therefore of high priority.

In this thesis, bioorthogonal chemistry is combined with correlative light-electron microscopy to selectively label and study pathogenic intracellular bacteria within the host immune cell.

Phospholipase A/acyltransferase 3 (PLAAT3) and PLAAT4 are enzymes involved in the synthesis of bioactive lipids. Despite sequential and structural similarities, the two enzymes differ in activity and specificity.

This thesis describes the development and optimization of the first molecular tools to study the enzyme PLA2G4E.

Carbon dioxide capture and utilization technologies are necessary to create a truly circular economy. The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate is an appealing carbon utilization method as it can be performed at room temperature and pressure, it only requires two electrons, and it has…

Advanced mass spectrometry of glycosphingolipids takes the central stage in this thesis. Investigations focus on characterization of glycosphingolipid metabolism in health and disease with emphasis to the detection and accurate quantitation of known and so far unknown glycosphingolipids and closely…

The first steps are made in personalised cancer vaccination strategies, which aim to induce a more specific immune response with fewer side effects. The activation of cytotoxic T cells is crucial for an effective immune response.

In the current global context, there is a pressing need to address sustainable energy supplies to safeguard our Planet and its ecosystems. The choices made by human society have a significant impact on genetic evolution and climate.

Tin electrodeposition applications have rapidly evolved in the past 25 years.

Membrane fusion is a vital process in living organisms and is mediated by zipper-like proteins.

This thesis describes the design, characterization and application of dextran based crosslinked network.

Human civilization consumes a huge amount of fossil fuels, which has resulted in an atmospheric CO2 level which has not been higher in over 800 millennia.

Na het afronden van de bacheloropleiding volgen verreweg de meeste studenten de masteropleiding. De Universiteit Leiden stimuleert studenten om na hun bacheloropleiding door te gaan met de masteropleiding.

Promotores: H.S. Overkleeft, G.A. van der Marel, Co-promotor: B.I. Florea

The main goal of the research described in this thesis was the development of new photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a non-toxic photolabile ligand.

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotors: A.I. Yanson, L.B.F. Juurlink

Microscopic insight on lipid-based nanomedicine in vivo remains limited to the perception of the knowledge that could be obtained: if we interpret only what we see, then we only believe to know. Although believing to know encapsulates an undefined amount of uncertainty in the exploration of lipid-based…

Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to be pivotal in the energetic transition towards renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. However, their industrial scalability is severely hindered by the high cost and degradation rate of platinum catalysts, one of their key components. Addressing this…

Neurodegenerative diseases pose a large medical and societal challenge. The etiology of these diseases is still poorly understood, which makes drug discovery for these diseases difficult.