Prof Kurt Vesterager Gothelf

The research in Gothelfs group at Aarhus University is based on organic chemistry and branches out into DNA nanotechnology, bioconjugation, nucleic acid chemistry, medicinal chemistry and biosensors. Currently, Kurt Gothelf leads the Center for Multifunctional Biomolecular Drug Design within the Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme. The goal is to develop new multifunctional drugs based on self-assembling oligonucleotide scaffolds including proteins, peptides and small molecules through oligonucleotide-based assembly. In conjunction with this, the group has a strong focus on developing new protein-DNA conjugation methods. Gothelf is also coordinator of the Marie-Sklodowsky-Marie ITN DNA-Robotics that uses DNA nanotechnology.

Gothelf was in charge of the DNRF Centre for DNA Nanotechnology (2007-2017) and has explored artificial DNA nanostructures, especially in combination with synthetic organic chemistry. In connection to this Gothelf has been and is coordinator of the two Marie-Sklodowsky-Marie ITNs European School of DNA Nanotechnology (EScoDNA) and DNA-Robotics. Gothelf has also engaged in the development of chemo- and biosensors for the past 15 years. From 2015-2019 he was in charge of the DETECT Innovation Fund. The purpose of the DETECT project has been to develop a point-of-care-testing devise for quantification of specific small molecule drugs in blood. In connection to this the start-upcompany MedicQuant was established.

A Reagent for Amine-Directed Conjugation to IgG1 Antibodies
Märcher, A.; Palmfeldt, J.; Nisavic, M.; Gothelf, K. V. Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. Published online: https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202013911
Quantitative Detection of Digoxin in Plasma Using Small-Molecule Immunoassay in a Recyclable Gravity-Driven Microfluidic Chip
Li, H.; Sørensen; J. V.; Gothelf, K.V. Adv. Sci., 2018, doi: 10.1002/advs.201802051
Docking of Antibodies into Cavities in DNA Origami Structures
Quyang, X.; De Stefano, M.; Krissanaprasit, A.; Kodal, A. L. B.; Rosen, C. B.; Liu, T.; Helmig, S.; Fan, C.; Gothelf, K. V. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 14423-14427. doi: 10.1002/anie.201706765.
Routing of individual polymers in designed patterns.
Knudsen, J. B.; Liu, L.; Bank Kodal, A. L.; Madsen, M.; Li, Q.; Song, J.; Woehrstein, J. B.; Wickham, S. F.; Strauss, M. T.; Schueder, F.; Vinther, J.; Krissanaprasit, A.; Gudnason, D.; Smith, A. A.; Ogaki, R.; Zelikin, A. N.; Besenbacher, F.; Birkedal, V.; Yin, P.; Shih, W. M.; Jungmann, R.; Dong, M.; Gothelf, K.V. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2015, 10, 892-898, doi: 10.1038/nnano.2015.190
Template-Directed Covalent Conjugation of DNA to Native Antibodies, Transferrin and other Metal-Binding Proteins
Rosen, C. B.; Kodal, A. L. B.; Nielsen, J. S.; Schaffert, D. H.; Scavenius, C.; Okholm, A. H.; Voigt, N. V.; , Enghild, J. J.; Kjems, J.; Tørring, T.; Gothelf, K. V. Nature Chem. 2014, 6, 804–809.
A DNA-Mediated Homogeneous Binding Assay for Proteins and Small Molecules
Zhang, Z.; Hejesen, C.; Kjelstrup, M. B.; Birkedal, V. B.; Gothelf, K. V. J. Am, Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 11115-11120.
An RNA Aptamer-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Detection of Theophylline in Serum
Ferapontova,E. E.; Olsen, E. M.; Gothelf, K. V. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 4256-4258.