Research Highlights Biocatalysis and Biotechnology (BB)iprime.umn.edu/sites/iprime.dl.umn.edu/files/bb... · Biocatalysis and Biotechnology (BB) ... Mark Distefano Chem Organic and

Research Highlights

Biocatalysis and Biotechnology (BB)

Biocatalysis and Biotechnology (BB)Investigator Department ExpertisePing Wang* BBE Enzymology and biocatalysis, bioconversion and

biosynthesis, biomaterials and functional coatings, bioelectrochemical processing, biosensors.

Mark Distefano Chem Organic and biochem., protein conjugates for therapeutic and biotechnology applications.

Mikael Elias Biochem Protein engineering and evolution, molecular modelling andrecognition, bioremediation and quorum quenching strategies.

Wei-Shou Hu CEMS Systems biotechnology, biochemical engineering, cell culture bioprocessing, stem cell technology

Romas Kazlauskas Biochem Biocatalytic synthesis of chemical intermediates and biofuels, enzyme modification for new reactions.

Lawrence Wackett Biochem Enzymes in biotechnology, immobilization technology, bioremediation, computer prediction tools for biocatalysis

Kechun Zhang CEMS Synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, protein engineering, biofuels, renewable chemicals.

*Program Leader (Email: [email protected]; Phone: 612-624-4792)

Chemical and fuel bioprocessing; Biocatalyst engineering; Biotransformation and Bioremediation; Enzyme evolution; Bio-based polymers and biocoatings; Pathway engineering; Synthetic biology; Systems biotechnology; Cell culture bioprocessing

Enzymatic Protein Labeling

Mark Distefano is exploring how proteinsaccelerate chemical reactions and howproteins recognize other molecules with highspecificity. This information is useful for drugdesign and biotechnology applications.

http://www.bti.umn.edu/faculty/biodistefano.html

Distefano Lab

Fluorescent labeling of CNTF

Protein prenylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification

Elias LabProtein Evolution and Bioremediation

Molecular engineering

Towards a sustainable use and reuse of key resources:the case of phosphorus

Innovative and green solution against bacterial biofilms and antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Enzymatic interference in bacterialcommunication using engineered lactonases

Biofilm inhibition by lactonases

Our Lab aims to decipher the mechanisms by whichbiological macromolecules evolve, to understandthe molecular basis of their biological functions,and to develop new methods for their engineering,with the aim of developing efficient, cost-effective,ecological and sustainable solutions to existing oremerging society issues.

Molecular evolution technology combining structural analysis and

phylogeny-inferred information.

Structural and enzymatic characterization of improved variants

Virulence factors inhibition – in vivo increase of

survival in a rat pneumonia model

Anti-foulingpaints

Anti-virulencebandage

Phosphate is an environmental

pollutant

Phosphate, an essential fertilizer

for food production, is a

very finite resource

Study, and molecular

engineering of the bacterial phosphate uptake transporter

Bioconversion of wastewater into clean water and

fertilizer

http://www.eliaslab.orgMore info and contacts:

Systems Design and Cell EngineeringHu Lab

Genome engineering for biomanufacturing, genome technology for CHO cells

Stem cell engineering for hepatic applications, biomanufacturing, for cell therapy

Biofilm and antibiotic resistance transmission, microbial invasion

Chinese hamster

Chinese hamster iPSC

Enterocuccus facaelis

http://www.cems.umn.edu/people/faculty/wei-shou-hu

Kazlauskas Lab

- engineers enzymes tobe more stable, to havehigher selectivity andeven to catalyze newreactions.

http://www.umn.edu/~rjk

Reconstructed ancestral esterases and hydroxynitrile lyases are more promiscuous than modern enzymes

Protein Engineering

Ancestral catalyze new reactions

Enzymatic rapid testfor melamine in milk

Enzymatic water treatmentTo remove herbicides

Immobilizing bacteria in fibersMolecular modeling

Bioremediationproducts

Wackett labEnzymes, Immobilization technology, Bioremediation, Computer tools for biocatalysis prediction

http://www.cbs.umn.edu/research/research-cbs/faculty-labs/wackett

Enzyme Technology

Pool water treatment

Bioproducts Innovations and Pathway Engineering

Our research program combinesprinciples of chemistry, biologyand engineering to achievebiosynthesis beyond nature

http://www.cems.umn.edu/about/people/faculty.id21395.html

Zhang Lab

Nano Biocatalysis and Biomaterials

Wang Lab

Conceiving and realizing nature-inspiredmultienzyme reaction pathways, ImmobilizedBiocatalysts, Bioproducts and Biopolymers,Bioenergy, Biosensors and Biomaterials.

http://www.bti.umn.edu/faculty/biowang.html