Chemistry Weekly Seminar - Dr. Geoff Horsman
Dr. Geoff Horsman of Wilfrid Laurier University, will present a seminar.
Title: Exploiting divergent enzyme selectivities for biocatalysis and antivirulence
Abstract:
Biosynthetic enzymes possessing exquisite selectivities can be exploited for developing green biocatalysts or anti-infective strategies. We have identified highly related epoxide hydrolases from polyketide biosynthetic pathways that catalyze either inversion or retention of epoxide stereochemistry to furnish enantiopure diols. Bioinformatic and structural approaches are revealing selectivity determinants that will guide protein engineering efforts to predictably expand their catalytic repertoires. We have also identified parallel biosynthetic pathways for tailoring bacterial surfaces with either the virulence factor phosphocholine or related natural phosphonate structural analogs. Characterizing enzyme selectivity determinants will set the stage for developing pathway-specific inhibitors as narrow-spectrum antivirulence agents.
Funding provided by Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet)