Molecular biotechnology
Molecular biotechnology group led by Prof. Alexander Frey aims on the rational design and engineering of molecular and cellular factories for production of novel and improved products. A key question we address is how we can embed novel, complex molecular processes into cells and apply these engineered cell factories successfully in industrial production processes.
Research themes
Bakers's yeast as a test bed
Yeast has been used for thousands of years to make food and drink. More recently, yeast has also been scientifically well studied and used in the production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, secondary metabolites or bioenergy. Using baker’s yeast as a working horse, we create new ways to make “tried and tested” products – however in a more efficient way as in the existing production methods. Read more
Engineering biology: From isolated molecular components via modules to complex living systems
In nature, the most basic active entities are proteins, which besides serving as structural elements, function as regulatory molecules or catalysts. Proteins exhibiting defined regulatory or catalytic activities can be assembled into functionally active modules, and these modules can be assembled into complex systems that can fulfill the desired tasks.
Oligosaccharide-based active ingredients
Carbohydrates are ubiquitous molecules with very diverse functions ranging from energy source to structural elements in cells. Furthermore, certain oligosaccharides such as N-glycans have the ability to modulate the functions and properties of proteins they are attached to. However, in recent years it has become clear that oligosaccharides themselves can modulate many biological processes. Together with Valio we explore novel ways to build bioactive oligosaccharides that could be produced in an industrial scale and used as active ingredients in food applications.
Metagenomics: new functionalities from nature
To match the ever-growing need for novel bioproducts and pharmaceuticals, metagenomics is as an alternative method for isolation of novel enzymes and pathways. In this approach all the DNA found in an environmental sample is isolated and transferred to a surrogate host for functional expression and testing. Using this method, new enzymes can be discovered. Read more
Publications
See the list of publications.
Contact information
Alexander Frey
Associate Professor
alexander.frey [at] aalto [dot] fi
+358 50 411 65 06
Visiting address
Kemistintie 1
FI-02150 Espoo
Postal address
P.O. Box 16100
FI-00076 Aalto
FINLAND