Research
Research
We use X-ray crystallography as a major tool to investigate natural product
biosynthetic enzymes.
By collecting diffraction data on
protein crystals, we are able to
determine the structures of new
enzymes.
X-ray crystallography
Natural products biosynthesis
We isolate new natural product biosynthetic gene clusters, generally from Streptomyces strains. Our efforts allow us to heterologously express gene clusters for high-level production of antibiotics and anticancer agents, to engineer the biosynthesis of new molecules, and to have access to new enzymes for biochemical and structural characterization.
We use this structural information to provide insight into enzyme mechanism and to direct efforts in protein engineering.