OVERVIEW

Research in the Booker lab centers on the enzymology associated with the biosynthesis of natural products and key cellular molecules, with a particular focus on reactions that involve S-adenosylmethionine and/or iron-sulfur clusters. Specific areas of research involve 1) understanding how sulfur atoms are appended to unactivated carbon centers, as in the biosynthesis of lipoic acid and biotin, as well as the modification of proteins or nucleic acids with methylthio (SCH3) groups;  2) the methylation of unactivated carbon and phosphinate phosphorus centers; and 3) novel uses of S-adenosylmethionine and/or iron-sulfur clusters in catalysis. We use a variety of techniques and strategies to interrogate key questions in these areas, including protein chemistry, mechanistic enzymology, organic synthesis, spectroscopy (electron paramagnetic resonance, UV–visible, and Mössbauer), proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, electrochemistry, and x-ray crystallography. Projects are always developing as we uncover novel mechanisms in this area of research. Check out the breakdown of our current projects below!

LIPOYL SYNTHASE                RLMN AND CFR

CBL DEPENDENT METHYLASES