Würzburg chemist Claudia Höbartner receives prestigious Albrecht Kossel Prize for breakthroughs in catalytic nucleic acids

Professor Claudia Höbartner is honored by the GDCh for her groundbreaking research into DNAzyme structures and the catalytic properties of nucleic acids.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 5:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from University of Würzburg

The Emerging Frontier of Catalytic Nucleic Acids

While DNA and RNA are traditionally recognized as carriers of genetic information and vaccine components, they also possess the ability to act as enzymes. These "catalytic nucleic acids" facilitate complex biochemical processes, a discovery that has launched an entirely new discipline within the field of chemistry. Professor Claudia Höbartner, Chair of Organic Chemistry I at the University of Würzburg, has emerged as a definitive leader in this area, specifically through her work with the NUCLEATE Cluster of Excellence.

Recognition at the GDCh Biochemistry 2026 Conference

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) officially presented Professor Höbartner with the Albrecht Kossel Prize on March 17, 2026, during their national conference in Würzburg. GDCh President Ruth Bieringer awarded the prize, which includes a 7,500 euro grant, in recognition of Höbartner’s outstanding scientific passion and her ability to push the boundaries of molecular biology. The award commemorates Nobel laureate Albrecht Kossel, a pioneer in the structural determination of the cell nucleus.

A World First in Molecular Structure Determination

A primary factor in Höbartner’s selection for the prize was her success in determining the structure of a DNAzyme for the first time in scientific history. This breakthrough provided the global research community with the first clear look at molecular catalytic mechanisms within DNA, unlocking a vast array of potential applications in synthetic biology and medicine. Prior to her work, the exact mechanical function of these "DNA enzymes" remained largely theoretical and lacked a visual blueprint.