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27 May 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Inaugural
At the inaugural lecture of Prof Dirk Opperman were, from the left: Prof Opperman, Prof Vasu Reddy, Prof Koos Albertyn, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, and Prof Paul Oberholster, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

Prof Dirk Opperman, a distinguished biochemist in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, recently (21 May 2024) delivered his inaugural lecture on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).

The title of his lecture was: Exploring, Exploiting, and Evolving Life at the Atomic Level.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation at the UFS, welcomed guests, stating, "An inaugural lecture is a major milestone, celebrating a life’s work that culminates in the title of professor. It marks an important chapter in an academic career, with much more to be achieved in the journey of producing important knowledge.”

He believes that an event such as this highlights the university’s pride in the achievements of its academic staff and aligns with Vision 130. “The UFS is proud to host such lectures, as they are significant moments to reveal and showcase the value of excellence in our knowledge pool in research, teaching, and innovation. As a university, we strive to make a difference through groundbreaking work, particularly in addressing society's challenges,” said Prof Reddy, emphasising that this topic truly speaks to the university’s commitment to impactful work in the hard sciences.

Deciphering the unknown

The topic of the lecture captures the essence of Prof Opperman’s research. He explains that ‘exploring’ refers to the determination of the three-dimensional structures of proteins and enzymes. ‘Exploiting’ involves the use of these enzymes to convert substrates into products of value, and ‘evolving’ pertains to mutating the DNA to change the protein, giving it different functions, activities, selectivity, or specificities.

In his lecture, he remarked that if we know the structures of these proteins and enzymes, we can explore what to do with them and how to change them. According to him, there are the unknown knowns, the unknown unknowns, and the known unknowns. “We may know of specific activities and reactions by microorganisms, but we don’t know which enzyme is responsible; similarly, we can know the reactivity of an enzyme, but not necessarily their true physiological functions. I am trying to figure out all these unknowns,” he said.

In his lecture, he also raised the question of whether AI could replace experimental determination of protein structures. "No, not yet; it is only predictions," he believes, commenting that navigating the unknown unknowns is a dangerous place in science.

Establishing the field of structural biology

Prof Opperman, born and raised in the Free State, completed his undergraduate studies at the UFS. Later, in 2008, he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from the same university. Following his doctoral studies, he conducted postdoctoral research on directed evolution under the guidance of Prof Manfred T Reetz at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Germany, one of the world’s top institutions.

In 2010, he was appointed to the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the UFS, where he has since established the field of structural biology, setting up the infrastructure essential for the advancement thereof. This includes equipment, techniques, and methods for determining the three-dimensional structure of proteins. “It is done using protein crystallisation and then X-ray diffraction,” he explains. Most of these X-ray diffraction experiments are then performed at particle accelerators called synchrotrons, such as Diamond Light Source (UK), which can produce intense X-rays.

His current research explores the interface of evolutionary and structure-function relationships of biocatalysts, with a particular focus on their application in green chemistry. Prof Opperman says that understanding both the structure and the function of an enzyme allows one to manipulate it to perform other functions.

Contributing to the broader goals of sustainable development

One of the projects he is working on highlights the potential for sustainable practices in waste management. Prof Opperman is currently part of a European Research Area Network Cofund partnership on Food Systems and Climate (FOSC), which focuses on developing biocatalysts for upcycling waste. An aspect of this work involves studying enzymes that degrade feathers, thereby converting feather waste into useful products such as fertiliser.

Regarding the contribution of his research to the broader goals of sustainable development and environmental protection, he says that enzymes are the base for biotechnology and the bioeconomy. “They can be sustainably produced, the reactions are environmentally friendly, and the resulting products can be classified as natural. There’s no need to use sources that are not sustainable to extract some of these molecules from,” he explains.

His significant contributions to the field are reflected in more than 50 authored and co-authored papers, some of which are published in prestigious journals such as Science, Nature Communications, and Angewandte Chemie. As an NRF B-rated researcher, his work has received funding from various local and international organisations, including industries such as Sasol and the Global Challenges Research Fund.

News Archive

International speakers discuss diversity
2014-02-11

 
Dr Charles Alexander from UCLA
Photo: O'Ryan Heideman

International and local experts recently gathered on the Bloemfontein Campus to deliberate over the topic of diversity.

Student participation and mobility dramatically increased in higher education worldwide. Cultural, political, economic and social factors on a national and global scale, have brought the reality of diversity into the operational spaces of Higher Education Institutions. These challenges are not exclusive to South Africa, though. In the Netherlands and USA, universities are also challenged by the demands of an increasingly diverse student population.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, acted as one of the keynote speakers during a two-day colloquium hosted by the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice. In an impelling address, Prof Jansen argued that change cannot be affected on a university campus if the surrounding community does not change as well. He also noted the spread of a culture of silence surrounding issues of misbehaviour. He urged that we need to find courage again to speak out. From the level of government, media and churches to the private spaces of our homes, we have to co-create an environment of care.

This message closely tied in with that of Prof Shirley Tate’s from the University of Leeds. In her keynote, she asserted that mere tolerance of someone different from you can lead to even more alienation. The path to true reconciliation is grounded in the intimacy of friendship. Friendship and empathy lead to trust and transcend racism.

Another keynote speaker from abroad, Dr Charles Alexander from the University of California, delineated a model for inclusive excellence. He explained that the major problem of true transformation is not due to a lack of ideas, but in the implementation thereof. “Realities of implementation short circuit the change process,” he said. He explained how campus environments can adapt in order to support and enhance lasting inclusivity.

We have to become complicit in the process of transformation, Prof Dr Ghorashi, Professor of Diversity and Integration at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, conveyed. Linking up with the issue of silence, she demonstrated the power of speaking out, using examples from her extensive research among victims of violence. It is imperative, she maintains, that for transformation to materialise, we need to create safe spaces in which we can share our vulnerabilities.

Footnote: Due to unfortunate circumstances, both Prof Dr Ghorashi and Prof Shirley Tate could not personally attend the colloquium as planned. Their respective keynotes were read to the audience on their behalf.

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