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Rudolf K. Thauer

Rudolf K. Thauer

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Chemistry
Germany
2026
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Microbiology
Germany
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
120
Citations
54672
World Ranking
497
National Ranking
36

Microbiology

D-Index
118
Citations
52986
World Ranking
164
National Ranking
9

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 2026 - Research.com Microbiology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Microbiology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
  • 1989 - Member of Academia Europaea

Overview

Rudolf K. Thauer is affiliated with the Max Planck Society in Germany. Their research covers multiple fields related to biological and engineering sciences, integrating molecular biology and biochemistry with applied engineering principles. The scientist's work primarily focuses on topics such as anaerobic digestion and biogas production, microbial metabolism and enzyme function, as well as biofuel production and bioconversion.

Their publication record includes recent contributions to the journal BIOspektrum. Notably, a paper titled Methanothermobacter - Biokatalysator für die Energiewende published in 2021, which addresses biological catalysts relevant to energy transition.

  • Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
  • Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
  • Biofuel production and bioconversion

  • Engineering
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

  • Building and Construction
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering

  • Methanothermobacter - Biokatalysator für die Energiewende (2021) published in BIOspektrum

  • Seigo Shima

  • BIOspektrum

Rudolf K. Thauer was recognized as a Member of Academia Europaea in 1989.

Best Publications

  • Energy conservation in chemotrophic anaerobic bacteria.

    R K Thauer;K Jungermann;K Decker

  • Methanogenic archaea: ecologically relevant differences in energy conservation.

    Rudolf K. Thauer;Anne-Kristin Kaster;Henning Seedorf;Wolfgang Buckel

  • Frontiers, Opportunities, and Challenges in Biochemical and Chemical Catalysis of CO2 Fixation

    Aaron M. Appel;John E. Bercaw;Andrew B. Bocarsly;Holger Dobbek

  • Biochemistry of methanogenesis: a tribute to Marjory Stephenson:1998 Marjory Stephenson Prize Lecture

    Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Energy conservation via electron bifurcating ferredoxin reduction and proton/Na+ translocating ferredoxin oxidation

    Wolfgang Buckel;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Crystal structure of methyl-coenzyme M reductase: the key enzyme of biological methane formation.

    Ulrich Ermler;Wolfgang Grabarse;Seigo Shima;Marcel Goubeaud

  • The Crystal Structure of [Fe]-Hydrogenase Reveals the Geometry of the Active Site

    Seigo Shima;Oliver Pilak;Sonja Vogt;Michael Schick

  • The genome of Clostridium kluyveri, a strict anaerobe with unique metabolic features

    Henning Seedorf;W. Florian Fricke;Birgit Veith;Holger Brüggemann

  • Different Ks values for hydrogen of methanogenic bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria: An explanation for the apparent inhibition of methanogenesis by sulfate

    Jakob K. Kristjansson;Peter Schönheit;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Coupled Ferredoxin and Crotonyl Coenzyme A (CoA) Reduction with NADH Catalyzed by the Butyryl-CoA Dehydrogenase/Etf Complex from Clostridium kluyveri

    Fuli Li;Julia Hinderberger;Henning Seedorf;Jin Zhang

  • Hydrogenases from methanogenic archaea, nickel, a novel cofactor, and H2 storage

    Rudolf K. Thauer;Anne-Kristin Kaster;Meike Goenrich;Michael Schick

  • Kinetic mechanism for the ability of sulfate reducers to out-compete methanogens for acetate

    Peter Schönheit;Jakob K. Kristjansson;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • The key nickel enzyme of methanogenesis catalyses the anaerobic oxidation of methane

    Silvan Scheller;Meike Goenrich;Reinhard Boecher;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Growth parameters ( K s , μ max , Y s ) of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

    Peter Schönheit;Johanna Moll;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • A conspicuous nickel protein in microbial mats that oxidize methane anaerobically

    Martin Krüger;Anke Meyerdierks;Frank Oliver Glöckner;Rudolf Amann

  • Coupling of ferredoxin and heterodisulfide reduction via electron bifurcation in hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea

    Anne-Kristin Kaster;Johanna Moll;Kristian Parey;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum requirement for growth of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum.

    Peter Schönheit;Johanna Moll;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Flavin-Based Electron Bifurcation, A New Mechanism of Biological Energy Coupling.

    Wolfgang Buckel;Rudolf Kurt Thauer;Rudolf Kurt Thauer

  • Life under extreme energy limitation: a synthesis of laboratory- and field-based investigations.

    Mark A. Lever;Karyn L. Rogers;Karen G. Lloyd;Jörg Overmann

  • C1 Transfer Enzymes and Coenzymes Linking Methylotrophic Bacteria and Methanogenic Archaea

    Ludmila Chistoserdova;Julia A. Vorholt;Rudolf K. Thauer;Mary E. Lidstrom

  • A third type of hydrogenase catalyzing H2 activation.

    Seigo Shima;Rudolf K. Thauer

  • Carbon Monoxide Oxidation by Methanogenic Bacteria

    L. Daniels;G. Fuchs;R. K. Thauer;J. G. Zeikus

Frequent Co-Authors

Seigo Shima
Seigo Shima Max Planck Society
Ulrich Ermler
Ulrich Ermler Max Planck Society
Reiner Hedderich
Reiner Hedderich Max Planck Society
Dietmar Linder
Dietmar Linder University of Giessen
Bernhard Jaun
Bernhard Jaun ETH Zurich
Gabriele Diekert
Gabriele Diekert Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Karl Decker
Karl Decker University of Freiburg
Ruth A. Schmitz
Ruth A. Schmitz Kiel University
Wolfgang Buckel
Wolfgang Buckel Philipp University of Marburg

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