Biomolecular Sciences Seminar Series

Dr. Bo Li

Title: Biosynthesis of Unusual Small Molecules by Opportunistic Pathogens

Abstract:

Drugs with origins in microbial metabolites have increased both the average human life span and quality of life. In the natural world, bioactive small molecules provide existential functions for their producers, shape the microbial communities around them, and affect the health of eukaryotic hosts of the microbes. Microbial genes dedicated to the synthesis of a bioactive small molecule are often found in clusters, the vast majority of which remain uncharacterized. My research group discovers bioactive small molecules by mining bacterial genomes; we study the enzymatic processes that assemble the small molecules and elucidate the mechanisms that impart the powerful activities of these molecules. For example, we identified several unusual small molecules produced by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and elucidated the structures and mechanisms of the enzymes involved their biosynthesis. Understanding the mighty chemistry of microbial small molecules could lead to the discovery of new therapeutics and enzyme catalysts.

Host: Dr. Rajesh Nagarajan