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Credit: Sahtoe group. Copyright: Hubrecht Institute.
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The Sahtoe group designs novel protein molecules to uncover the structural and mechanistic basis of life.
Life on earth is for a large part enabled by proteins. These molecules control processes ranging from metabolism to gene regulation and often form tightly regulated complexes that harbor catalytic and/or allosteric activity. Such sophisticated complexes can harvest light, eliminate pathogens or repair DNA damage. The Sahtoe lab aims to design novel protein systems that exhibit such sophisticated functions from the ground up. This allows us to understand the molecular basis of natural protein function, and enables us to design novel protein systems with functionalities that are not observed in nature and can be used for biomedical and biotechnological applications.
The genetic information of eukaryotes is carefully organized in chromatin where DNA is condensed through interactions with specialized DNA binding proteins. These proteins together with chemical modifications of chromatin control the expression of genes epigenetically i.e. without changing the DNA sequence and therefore control virtually all processes in eukaryotes. Because epigenetic processes are often deregulated in disease it is important to study the molecular epigenetic mechanisms in detail. We design novel proteins that interact with native chromatin factors in order to study these mechanisms.
Molecular recognition, catalysis and allostery are hallmarks of life that enable the advanced protein functions observed in the natural world. These functions are often subject to multiple layers of regulation frequently through protein-protein interactions. We create such complex systems from the ground up and measure their activities in vitro in order to obtain a detailed understanding of the underlying biochemical and biophysical mechanisms. Our insights can be used to understand natural protein systems. The comprehensive knowledge that we obtain will allow for the design of next generation therapeutics that go beyond simple binding but can respond to their molecular environments and limit off target effects.
Sahtoe DD, Andrzejewska EA, [...] Knowles TPJ, Baker D.
Download|2024
Sahtoe DD, Praetorius F [...] Bera AK and Baker D
Download|2022
Sahtoe DD, Coscia A [...] Abraham J and Baker D
Download|2021
Sahtoe DD, Dijk WJ, van, Ekkebus R, Ovaa H and Sixma TK
Download|2016
Sahtoe DD, Dijk WJ, van [...] Ovaa H and Sixma TK
Download|2015
Sahtoe DD and Sixma TK
Danny Sahtoe joined the Hubrecht Institute as a group leader in 2023, after doing a PhD in structural biology and a postdoc in computational protein design. His group designs novel protein systems for biomedical and biotechnological use, and to elucidate the mechanistic basis of life in health and disease. The Sahtoe group uses computational methods for protein design, high throughput experimental screening and a range of biophysical techniques to characterize protein systems.
2023- Group leader at the Hubrecht Institute 2023 Junior Oncode Investigator 2016-2022 Postdoctoral scholar in the group of Prof. David Baker, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington 2009-2015 PhD thesis in the group of Prof. Titia Sixma, Netherlands Cancer Institute
2015 EMBO long term fellowship 2015 Washington Research Foundation Innovation fellowship 2023 Recipient NWO-VIDI grant
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Students are encouraged to apply for an internship by emailing Danny Sahtoe.
