apl. Prof. Dr. Alexander Nesterov-Müller

Research

Our research group combines combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput screening to explore molecular interactions and discover functional biomolecules. Our primary focus lies in studying peptides and their applications in understanding evolutionary processes, molecular recognition, and interactions with antibodies, proteins, RNA, polymers, and cells.

Screening for Primordial RNA–Peptide Interactions Using High-Density Peptide Arrays

Highlights:

  • High-throughput screening for selective RNA binders;
  • Emergence of the standard genetic code from the combinatorial fusion cascade;
  • Prediction of ancient "living" membranes.

See for details: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/7/3515 ; https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/9/975

Resemblance-Ranking Peptide Library to Screen for Binders to Antibodies on a Peptidomic Scale

Highlights:

  • Human peptidome library design;
  • Each antibody has a number of "non-antigenic" selective binders with sub μM affinity;
  • Simultaneous measurement of dissociation constants KD of antibodies for 6000 peptides.

See for details: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/7/3515

Serological Number for Characterization of Circulating Antibodies

Highlights:

  • How to determine the number of linear and conformational monoclonal antibody epitopes in the patient's sera?
  • What causes a pre-existing antibody response after vaccination?

See for details: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/3/604

Selective Peptide Binders to the Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Ionomer Nafion

Highlights:

  • Discovery of new functional molecules with a selective affinity for technical polymers

See for details: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202214932

CV

1998    Diploma Physicist with Honor from Lomonosov Moscow State University

2006    Dr. rer.nat. in Physics from University of Heidelberg

2008    Interdisciplinary Habilitation on Molecular High Density Arrays at University of Heidelberg/ German Cancer Research Center

2010    Assistant Professor (Privatdozent) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology

since 2015    Associate Professor (apl. Professor) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

 

Awards: ERC Starting Grant (2011), HRJRG-Grant (2011), ERC Proof-of-Principle Grants (2015 and 2017)

 

Selected Publications:

  1. Nesterov-Mueller, A. The Combinatorial Fusion Cascade as a Neural Network. AI 2025, 6, 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ai6020023

  2. Sonnentag, S.J.; Jenne, F.; Orian-Rousseau, V.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. High-throughput screening for cell binding and repulsion peptides on multifunctionalized surfaces. Commun Biol 2024, 7, doi:ARTN 870 10.1038/s42003-024-06541-7

  3. Schmidt, D.; Gartner, P.; Berezkin, I.; Rudat, J.; Bilger, M.; Grünert, T.; Zimmerer, N.; Quarz, P.; Scharfer, P.; Brückel, J.; Jung, A. P.; Singh, P.; Pooja, P.; Meier, B.; Stahlberger, M.; Schabel, W.; Bräse, S.; Lanza, G.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. Selective Peptide Binders to the Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Ionomer Nafion. Adv Func Mater 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202214932

  4. Jenne, F.; Berezkin, I.; Tempel, F.; Schmidt, D.; Popov, R.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. Screening for Primordial RNA–Peptide Interactions Using High-Density Peptide Arrays. Life 2023, 13, 796. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030796
  5. Jenne, F.; Biniaminov, S.; Biniaminov, N.; Marquardt, P.; von Bojničić-Kninski, C.; Popov, R.; Seckinger, A.; Hose, D.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. Resemblance-Ranking Peptide Library to Screen for Binders to Antibodies on a Peptidomic Scale. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 3515.
  6. Babii, O.; Afonin, S.; Diel, C.; Huhn, M.; Dommermuth, J.; Schober, T.; Koniev, S.; Hrebonkin, A.; Nesterov-Mueller, A.; Komarov, I.V.; Ulrich A. Diarylethene-Based Photoswitchable Inhibitors of Serine Proteases. Angew Chem Int Edit 2021, 60, 21789-21794.
  7. Nesterov-Mueller, A.; Popov, R. The Combinatorial Fusion Cascade to Generate the Standard Genetic Code. Life 2021, 11, 975. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11090975
  8. Nesterov-Müller, A.; Popov, R. Die Botschaft von LUCA — der letzte universelle gemeinsame Vorfahre. Biospektrum 2020, 26, 488–489 8 (in German).
  9. Palermo, A.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. Serological Number for Characterization of Circulating Antibodies. Int J Mol Sci 2019, 20, doi:ARTN 604
  10. Held, F.E.; Guryev, A.A.; Frohlich, T.; Hampel, F.; Kahnt, A.; Hutterer, C.; Steingruber, M.; Bahsi, H.; von Bojnicic-Kninski, C.; Mattes, D.S.; Nesterov-Mueller, A.; Marschall, M.; Tsogoeva, S.  Facile access to potent antiviral quinazoline heterocycles with fluorescence properties via merging metal-free domino reactions. Nat Commun 2017, 8, doi:ARTN 15071
  11. von Bojnicic-Kninski, C.; Popov, R.; Dorsam, E.; Loeffler, F.F.; Breitling, F.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. Combinatorial Particle Patterning. Adv Funct Mater 2017, 27, doi:ARTN 1703511
  12. Nesterov-Müller, A.: Erfolgreicher Grenzgang : Bunsen und Kirchhoff: Entdeckung der Spektralanalyse, Physik in unserer Zeit 2016, 47: 233–237, DOI: 10.1002/piuz.201601440 (in German).
  13. Popova, A.A.; Schillo, S.M.; Demir, K.; Ueda, E.; Nesterov-Mueller, A.; Levkin, P.A. Droplet-Array (DA) Sandwich Chip: A Versatile Platform for High-Throughput Cell Screening Based on Superhydrophobic-Superhydrophilic Micropatterning. Adv Mater 2015, 27, 5217-5222, doi:10.1002/adma.201502115.
  14. Maerkle, F.; Loeffler, F.F.; Schillo, S.; Foertsch, T.; Muenster, B.; Striffler, J.; Schirwitz, C.; Bischoff, F.R.; Breitling, F.; Nesterov-Mueller, A. High-Density Peptide Arrays with Combinatorial Laser Fusing. Adv Mater 2014, 26, 3730-3734, doi:10.1002/adma.201305759.