R. Gary Sawers

Professor R. Gary Sawers leads the Microbiology division at the Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His research spans three decades, focusing on microbial formate/hydrogen metabolism and Streptomyces physiology at the aerobic-anaerobic interface. Key contributions include elucidating glycyl radical enzyme mechanisms and nitrate respiration in actinomycetes.

• Research Themes: Microbial formate metabolism, hydrogen production, Streptomyces dormancy, and respiratory nitrate reductases
• Key Techniques: Molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, structural analysis, microbial physiology

Recent Publications (2020-2025) reveal his group's work on:

• Formate channel (FocA) function in pH homeostasis and metabolite transport
• [NiFe] hydrogenase maturation and cofactor biosynthesis
• Streptomyces spore survival mechanisms under anaerobic stress
• Redox regulation of hydrogen metabolism in enterobacteria

Group Members include PhD students Christopher Erdmann and Sissy Schnabel, along with postdocs Dr. Dörte Falke, Dr. Marco Fischer, Dr. Michelle Kammel, and Dr. Anne Oertel. Technical support is provided by Claudia Hammerschmidt, Antje Krippner, and Stefan Schwoch.