Walvoort, Prof. Marthe

Marthe Walvoort is an assistant professor of Chemistry at the University of Groningen. She researches the function and workings of carbohydrate molecules, which are not only present in food, but also in paper or on the outside of bacteria and viruses. Walvoort studies these molecules by reproducing them in the lab. In contrast to the reproduction of DNA and protein chains, this technique is still in its infancy. Much of Walvoort’s work revolves around developing new methods for producing carbohydrate chains.

Bacteria often use sugars to infect other cells, which means that the knowledge generated by Walvoort’s research could lead to new ways of neutralizing bacteria. Another focus area is the development of carbohydrate chains to promote the growth of ‘good’ rather than ‘bad’ bacteria, helping to curb the need for antibiotics in the future. Walvoort was granted an ERC Starting Grant worth 1.5 million euro's for her research project 'Sticky Sugars'.

At the end of her degree programme in chemistry in Leiden, Walvoort spent a year carrying out research in Oxford. She was then awarded a PhD in Chemistry in Leiden (cum laude (with distinction)) and worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a postdoc researcher from 2012 to 2015.

Walvoort is a Rosalind Franklin Fellow at the University of Groningen and one of the founders of the Young Academy Groningen.

Previously in the news

European grant worth millions awarded to UG academics
Marthe Walvoort, winner of the Athena Award, want to do away with the negative image of sugar. (In Dutch only)
Marthe Walvoort receives NWO Athena Award
KNAW Early Career Award for two young UG researchers
Dr Marthe Walvoort wins Gratama Prize
Vlog: Marthe Walvoort – Are bacteria too smart for us?
Omringd door zoetigheid. Gronings onderzoek naar bacteriële suikers [Surrounded by sweetness. Groningen research into bacterial sugars] (in Dutch only)
Onderzoeker Marthe Walvoort genomineerd voor prijs als wetenschapstalent [Researcher Marthe Walvoort nominated for Science Talent Award] (in Dutch only)
Marthe Walvoort: 'Elke suiker is anders' ['All sugars are different'] (in Dutch only)

Contact and further information

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Publications

2022

Reintjens, N. R. M., Yakovlieva, L., Marinus, N., Hekelaar, J., Nuti, F., Papini, A. M., Witte, M. D., Minnaard, A. J., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2022). Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidation of Glucose in Glycopeptides. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2022(25), [e202200677]. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202200677

Versloot, R. C. A., Lucas, F. L. R., Yakovlieva, L., Tadema, M. J., Zhang, Y., Wood, T. M., Martin, N. I., Marrink, S. J., Walvoort, M. T. C., & Maglia, G. (2022). Quantification of Protein Glycosylation Using Nanopores. Nano Letters, 22(13), 5357-5364. [2c10338]. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01338

Gheorghita, A. A., Li, Y. E., Kitova, E. N., Bui, D. T., Pfoh, R., Low, K. E., Whitfield, G. B., Walvoort, M. T. C., Zhang, Q., Codée, J. D. C., Klassen, J. S., & Howell, P. L. (2022). Structure of the AlgKX modification and secretion complex required for alginate production and biofilm attachment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nature Communications, 13(1), [7631]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35131-6

2021

Ferrari, M., Hameleers, L., Stuart, M. C. A., Oerlemans, M. M. P., de Vos, P., Jurak, E., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2022). Efficient isolation of membrane-associated exopolysaccharides of four commercial bifidobacterial strains. Carbohydrate Polymers, 278, [118913]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118913

Yakovlieva, L., Wood, T. M., Kemmink, J., Kotsogianni, I., Koller, F., Lassak, J., Martin, N. I., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2021). A β-hairpin epitope as novel structural requirement for protein arginine rhamnosylation. Chemical Science, 12(4), 1560-1567. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0sc05823h

Oerlemans, M., Akkerman, R., Ferrari, M., Walvoort, M., & Vos, de, P. (2021). Benefits of bacteria-derived exopolysaccharides on gastrointestinal microbiota, immunity and health. Journal of Functional Foods, 76, [104289]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2020.104289

Yakovlieva, L., Fülleborn, J. A., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2021). Corrigendum: Opportunities and Challenges of Bacterial Glycosylation for the Development of Novel Antibacterial Strategies (Front. Microbiol., (2021), 12, (745702), 10.3389/fmicb.2021.745702). Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, [803203]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.803203

Verkhnyatskaya, S. A., Kong, C., Klostermann, C. E., Schols, H. A., de Vos, P., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2021). Digestion, fermentation, and pathogen anti-adhesive properties of the hMO-mimic di-fucosyl-β-cyclodextrin. Food and Function, 12(11), 5018-5026. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1fo00830g

Yakovlieva, L., Fülleborn, J. A., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2021). Opportunities and Challenges of Bacterial Glycosylation for the Development of Novel Antibacterial Strategies. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, [745702]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.745702

Lucas, F. L. R., Versloot, R. C. A., Yakovlieva, L., Walvoort, M. T. C., & Maglia, G. (2021). Protein identification by nanopore peptide profiling. Nature Communications, 12, [5795]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26046-9

Leeuwenburgh, V. C., Urzua-Traslavina, C. G., Bhattacharya, A., Walvoort, M. T. C., Jalving, M., de Jong, S., & Fehrmann, R. S. N. (2021). Robust metabolic transcriptional components in 34,494 patient-derived cancer-related samples and cell lines. Cancer & Metabolism, 9(1), [35]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40170-021-00272-7

Yakovlieva, L., Ramírez-Palacios, C., Marrink, S. J., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2021). Semiprocessive Hyperglycosylation of Adhesin by Bacterial Protein N-Glycosyltransferases. ACS chemical biology, 16(1), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.0c00848

2020

Cheng, L., Akkerman, R., Kong, C., Walvoort, M. T. C., & de Vos, P. (2021). More than sugar in the milk: human milk oligosaccharides as essential bioactive molecules in breast milk and current insight in beneficial effects. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 61(7), 1184-1200. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1754756

Cheng, L., Kiewiet, M. B. G., Logtenberg, M. J., Groeneveld, A., Nauta, A., Schols, H. A., Walvoort, M. T. C., Harmsen, H. J. M., & de Vos, P. (2020). Effects of Different Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Growth of Bifidobacteria in Monoculture and Co-culture With Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, [569700]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.569700

Kong, C., Cheng, L., Krenning, G., Fledderus, J., de Haan, B. J., Walvoort, M. T., & de Vos, P. (2020). Human Milk Oligosaccharides Mediate the Crosstalk Between Intestinal Epithelial Caco-2 Cells and Lactobacillus Plantarum WCFS1 in an In Vitro Model with Intestinal Peristaltic Shear Force. The Journal of Nutrition, 150(8), 2077-2088. [nxaa162]. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa162

Hu, S., Kuwabara, R., Beukema, M., Ferrari, M., de Haan, B. J., Walvoort, M. T. C., de Vos, P., & Smink, A. M. (2020). Low methyl-esterified pectin protects pancreatic beta-cells against diabetes-induced oxidative and inflammatory stress via galectin-3. Carbohydrate Polymers, 249, [116863]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116863

Zhang, J., Yakovlieva, L., de Haan, B. J., de Vos, P., Minnaard, A. J., Witte, M. D., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2020). Selective Modification of Streptozotocin at the C3 Position to Improve Its Bioactivity as Antibiotic and Reduce Its Cytotoxicity towards Insulin-Producing β Cells. Antibiotics , 9(4), [182]. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9040182

2019

Yakovlieva, L., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2020). Processivity in Bacterial Glycosyltransferases. ACS chemical biology, 15(1), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.9b00619

Verkhnyatskaya, S. A., de Vries, A. H., Douma-de Vries, E., Sneep, R. J. L., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2019). Direct and Regioselective Di-alpha-fucosylation on the Secondary Rim of beta-Cyclodextrin: Cover Profile. Chemistry, 25(27), 6649-6649. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201901257

Verkhnyatskaya, S. A., de Vries, A. H., Douma-de Vries, E., Sneep, E. J. L., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2019). Direct and Regioselective Di-alpha-fucosylation on the Secondary Rim of beta-Cyclodextrin. Chemistry, 25(27), 6722-6727. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201806090

Cheng, L., Kong, C., Walvoort, M. T. C., Faas, M. M., & de Vos, P. (2019). Human Milk Oligosaccharides Differently Modulate Goblet Cells Under Homeostatic, Proinflammatory Conditions and ER Stress. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, [1900976]. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201900976

Verkhnyatskaya, S., Ferrari, M., de Vos, P., & Walvoort, M. T. C. (2019). Shaping the Infant Microbiome With Non-digestible Carbohydrates. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, [343]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00343

2018

Walvoort, M. (Developer), Fehrmann, R. (Developer), & Leeuwenburgh, V. (Developer). (2018). Novel tools to dissect and monitor tumor metabolism in melanoma patients. Digital or Visual Products

Leeuwenburgh, V., Bhattacharya, A., Urzua, C., Walvoort, M., Jalving, H., de Jong, S., & Fehrmann, R. (2018). The metabolic landscape browser: a novel tool for understanding pan-cancer metabolic processes through variance in gene expression data. European Journal of Cancer, 103(Suppl.1), E106-E106. [318 (PB-079)].

2017

Lukose, V., Walvoort, M. T. C., & Imperiali, B. (2017). Bacterial phosphoglycosyl transferases: initiators of glycan biosynthesis at the membrane interface. Glycobiology, 27(9), 820-833. [cwx064]. https://doi.org/10.1093/glycob/cwx064

Bdira, F. B., Kallemeijn, W. W., Oussoren, S. V., Scheij, S., Bleijlevens, B., Florea, B. I., van Roomen, C. P. A. A., Ottenhoff, R., van Kooten, M. J. F. M., Walvoort, M. T. C., Witte, M. D., Boot, R. G., Ubbink, M., Overkleeft, H. S., & Aerts, J. M. F. G. (2017). Stabilization of Glucocerebrosidase by Active Site Occupancy. ACS chemical biology, 12(7), 1830-1841. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.7b00276

2016

Walvoort, M. T. C., Lukose, V., & Imperiali, B. (2016). A Modular Approach to Phosphoglycosyltransferase Inhibitors Inspired by Nucleoside Antibiotics. Chemistry : a European Journal, 22(11), 3856-3864. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201503986

Walvoort, M. T. C., Testa, C., Eilam, R., Aharoni, R., Nuti, F., Rossi, G., Real-Fernandez, F., Lanzillo, R., Brescia Morra, V., Lolli, F., Rovero, P., Imperiali, B., & Papini, A. M. (2016). Antibodies from multiple sclerosis patients preferentially recognize hyperglucosylated adhesin of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Scientific Reports, 6, [39430]. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39430

Das, D., Walvoort, M. T. C., Lukose, V., & Imperiali, B. (2016). A Rapid and Efficient Luminescence-based Method for Assaying Phosphoglycosyltransferase Enzymes. Scientific Reports, 6, [33412]. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33412

2015

Zhang, Q., van Rijssel, E. R., Walvoort, M. T. C., Overkleeft, H. S., van der Marel, G. A., & Codee, J. D. C. (2015). Acceptor Reactivity in the Total Synthesis of Alginate Fragments Containing -L-Guluronic Acid and -D-Mannuronic Acid. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 54(26), 7670-7673. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201502581

2014

Wolfram, F., Kitova, E. N., Robinson, H., Walvoort, M. T. C., Codee, J. D. C., Klassen, J. S., & Howell, P. L. (2014). Catalytic Mechanism and Mode of Action of the Periplasmic Alginate Epimerase AlgG. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289(9), 6006-6019. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M113.533158

Baker, P., Ricer, T., Moynihan, P. J., Kitova, E. N., Walvoort, M. T. C., Little, D. J., Whitney, J. C., Dawson, K., Weadge, J. T., Robinson, H., Ohman, D. E., Codee, J. D. C., Klassen, J. S., Clarke, A. J., & Howell, P. L. (2014). P. aeruginosa SGNH Hydrolase-Like Proteins AlgJ and AlgX Have Similar Topology but Separate and Distinct Roles in Alginate Acetylation. PLoS Pathogens, 10(8), [e1004334]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004334

Li, K. Y., Kallemeijn, W., Jiang, J., Walvoort, M., Willems, L., Beenakker, T., Van Den Elst, H., Van Der Marel, G., Codée, J., Aerts, H., Florea, B., Boot, R., Witte, M., & Overkleeft, H. (2014). Rational Design of Activity-Based Retaining β-Exoglucosidase Probes. In Concepts and Case Studies in Chemical Biology (Vol. 9783527336111, pp. 191-206). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527687503.ch13

2013

Ronnols, J., Walvoort, M. T. C., van der Marel, G. A., Codee, J. D. C., & Widmalm, G. (2013). Chair interconversion and reactivity of mannuronic acid esters. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 11(46), 8127-8134. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ob41747f

Frihed, T. G., Walvoort, M. T. C., Codee, J. D. C., van der Marel, G. A., Bols, M., & Pedersen, C. M. (2013). Influence of O6 in Mannosylations Using Benzylidene Protected Donors: Stereoelectronic or Conformational Effects? Journal of Organic Chemistry, 78(6), 2191-2205. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo302455d

2012

Walvoort, M. T. C., van den Elst, H., Plante, O. J., Kroeck, L., Seeberger, P. H., Overkleeft, H. S., van der Marel, G. A., & Codee, J. D. C. (2012). Automated Solid-Phase Synthesis of beta-Mannuronic Acid Alginates. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 51(18), 4393-4396. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201108744

Walvoort, M. T. C., Volbeda, A. G., Reintjens, N. R. M., van den Elst, H., Plante, O. J., Overkleeft, H. S., van der Marel, G. A., & Codee, J. D. C. (2012). Automated Solid-Phase Synthesis of Hyaluronan Oligosaccharides. Organic letters, 14(14), 3776-3779. https://doi.org/10.1021/ol301666n

Walvoort, M. T. C., van der Marel, G. A., Overkleeft, H. S., & Codee, J. D. C. (2012). On the reactivity and selectivity of donor glycosides in glycochemistry and glycobiology: trapped covalent intermediates. Chemical Science, 4(3), 897-906. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2sc21610h

Walvoort, M. T. C., Sail, D., van der Marel, G. A., & Codée, J. D. C. (2012). Synthesis of Methyl Glycuronates by Chemoand Regioselective TEMPO/BAIB-Oxidation. In P. Kovác (Ed.), Carbohydrate chemistry: proven synthetic methods (Vol. 1, pp. 99-105). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b11261-17

Walvoort, M. T. C., Kallemeijn, W. W., Willems, L. I., Witte, M. D., Aerts, J. M. F. G., van der Marel, G. A., Codee, J. D. C., & Overkleeft, H. S. (2012). Tuning the leaving group in 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucoside results in improved activity-based retaining beta-glucosidase probes. Chemical Communications, 48(84), 10386-10388. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2cc35653h

2011

Witte, M. D., Walvoort, M. T. C., Li, K-Y., Kallemeijn, W. W., Donker-Koopman, W. E., Boot, R. G., Aerts, J. M. F. G., Codee, J. D. C., van der Marel, G. A., & Overkleeft, H. S. (2011). Activity-Based Profiling of Retaining beta-Glucosidases: A Comparative Study. ChemBioChem, 12(8), 1263-1269. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.201000773

Walvoort, M. T. C., de Witte, W., van Dijk, J., Dinkelaar, J., Lodder, G., Overkleeft, H. S., Codee, J. D. C., & van der Marel, G. A. (2011). Mannopyranosyl Uronic Acid Donor Reactivity. Organic letters, 13(16), 4360-4363. https://doi.org/10.1021/ol2016862

Codee, J. D. C., Walvoort, M. T. C., de Jong, A-R., Lodder, G., Overkleeft, H. S., & van der Marel, G. A. (2011). Mannuronic Acids: Reactivity and Selectivity. Journal of carbohydrate chemistry, 30(7-9), 438-457. https://doi.org/10.1080/07328303.2011.624284

Walvoort, M. T. C., Moggre, G-J., Lodder, G., Overkleeft, H. S., Codee, J. D. C., & van der Marel, G. A. (2011). Stereoselective Synthesis of 2,3-Diamino-2,3-dideoxy-beta-D-mannopyranosyl Uronates. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 76(18), 7301-7315. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo201179p

Codee, J. D. C., Christina, A. E., Walvoort, M. T. C., Overkleeft, H. S., & Van der Marel, G. A. (2011). Uronic Acids in Oligosaccharide and Glycoconjugate Synthesis. In B. FraserReid, & JC. Lopez (Eds.), REACTIVITY TUNING IN OLIGOSACCHARIDE ASSEMBLY (pp. 253-289). (Topics in Current Chemistry; Vol. 301). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/128_2010_111

2010

Walvoort, M. T. C., Lodder, G., Overkleeft, H. S., Codee, J. D. C., & van der Marel, G. A. (2010). Mannosazide Methyl Uronate Donors. Glycosylating Properties and Use in the Construction of beta-ManNAcA-Containing Oligosaccharides. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 75(23), 7990-8002. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo101779v

Walvoort, M. T. C., Dinkelaar, J., van den Bos, L. J., Lodder, G., Overkleeft, H. S., Codee, J. D. C., & van der marel, G. A. (2010). The impact of oxacarbenium ion conformers on the stereochemical outcome of glycosylations. Carbohydrate Research, 345(10), 1252-1263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2010.02.027

2009

Walvoort, M. T. C., Lodder, G., Mazurek, J., Overkleeft, H. S., Codee, J. D. C., & van der Marel, G. A. (2009). Equatorial Anomeric Triflates from Mannuronic Acid Esters. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(34), 12080-12081. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja905008p

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29 November 2022 2.25 p.m.

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