Visualizing Complex Processes: The Biosynthesis of Vancomycin

Modern natural product research is a highly interdisciplinary field. In this field, researchers with different scientific backgrounds work together to investigate the properties of a natural substance. Among other things, the aim is to understand the mode of action of chemical compounds, decipher evolutionary processes and carry out the biochemical characterisation of the enzymes involved. An important key element in the research of a natural substance is to understand its development process, the biosynthesis pathway.

Those involved usually come from fields such as microbiology, synthetic chemistry, biochemistry or bioinformatics. Collaboration can be a challenge, as the language of the researchers sometimes differs between disciplines.

In a CMFI project on scientific visualisation, researchers from the Ziemert Lab and the Stegman Lab, together with the Centre for Media Competence of the University of Tübingen, have produced a video that animates the biosynthesis of the glycopeptide antibiotic (GPA) vancomycin.

Audiovisual formats can be used to visualize complex processes. Animations are increasingly being used in interdisciplinary communication to create a basis for discussion and bring together different perspectives from research. The video is intended to show how audiovisual formats can improve the understanding of complex processes.