Dr. Michael Burkart

In _E. coli_, the acyltransferase (AT), FabD, initiates fatty acid biosynthesis by charging the acyl carrier protein (ACP), AcpP, with malonyl-CoA. In order to catalyze this chemical transformation, FabD, must form a complex with AcpP…

Natural product chemists have long dreamed about genetically designing and programming small molecule biosynthesis in laboratory organisms, which could be used as factories for the synthesis of novel molecules; but has become clear that a more fundamental understanding of these pathways will be the…

To rationalize the specificity of biomolecular recognition in type II non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, we analyzed interactions between two (homologous) prolyl-carrier proteins, PigG and PltL, and their cognate adenylases, PigI and PltF, respectively, using a combination nuclear magnetic resonance…

_Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a global epidemic and a leading cause of death worldwide, killing more people annually than HIV/AIDS…

Melanin is a unique biopolymer that is central to living organisms, yet our understanding of its structure and properties is limited…

Polyketides, typically isolated from plants, bacteria, and fungi, represent a unique and important class of natural products that are complex and diverse in structure and are produced by polyketide synthases (PKSs)…

Fatty acids are prevalent in all walks of life and are produced by fatty acid synthases (FASs) in which an acyl carrier protein (ACP) tethers a growing acyl chain as it is elongated and modified by a series of partner proteins…

_Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ (MTB) is the pathogen that causes tuberculosis (TB), a global epidemic and a leading cause of death worldwide, killing more people annually than HIV/AIDS…

The _de novo_ formation of lipid membranes from minimal reactive precursors is a major goal in synthetic cell research. In nature, the synthesis of membrane phospholipids is orchestrated by numerous enzymes, including fatty acid synthases and membrane-bound acyltransferases…

_Mycobacterium tuberculosis _(_Mtb_) is the causative agent of the disease Tuberculosis (TB), and it employs the type II fatty acid synthase (FAS-II) metabolic pathway…

We have developed a new strategy to identify natural product biosynthetic pathways from complex microbial ecosystems that combines chemical biology tools with single cell sequencing…

Targeted protein degraders (TPDs) have recently emerged as promising therapeutic agents showing exciting progress in clinical trials…

Renewable polymers have become an important focus in next-generation materials, and algae biomass offers an environmentally low-impact feedstock that can serve multiple uses…

Medium-chain hydrocarbons are important chemical components for widespread and valuable industries including plastics, polymers, and cosmetics…

Acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) are involved in primary and secondary metabolic pathways, including the fatty acid biosynthesis that is required for all domains of life…

In the transition to renewably-sourced, biodegradable polymers, preparation of low viscosity polyester-polyols has posed a challenge for renewable polyurethane development. Low viscosity polyols not only reduce the requirement for high process temperatures but also decrease manufacturing time…

As a pervasive biopolymer, melanin is present throughout biology. Melanin has a myriad of different functions including radiation protection, radical scavenging, thermal regulation, and small molecule and metal adsorption…

In the current study of polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis, a major goal has been the structural elucidation of the megasynthases that produce them. We have been developing chemical biology tools to study these enzyme systems, with a focus on dual site-selective crosslinking probes…

In order to avoid ecological degradation from plastic waste and ocean-born microplastics, we must transition toward renewably sourced, biodegradable polymers for the majority of single-use applications. This will require the development of drop-in solutions for these products…

Human carbonic anhydrase II (hCAII) is a metalloenzyme which is essential to critical physiological processes in the body. hCA inhibitors are used clinically for the treatment of indications ranging from glaucoma to epilepsy…

Carrier protein-dependent biosynthetic pathways produce a diverse range of primary and secondary metabolites, many of which manifest in our daily lives as therapeutics and antibiotics…

_Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ (Mtb) is the causative agent of the disease, tuberculosis (TB), and a leading cause of death worldwide. The pathogenicity of tuberculosis infections is largely due to the unique cell wall structure of the bacteria, which contains mycolic acids…

_Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ (Mtb) is a global leading cause of death, with an increasing occurrence of drug-resistant infections due to the production of mycolic acids derived from type II fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS-II) that are incorporated into the cell wall…

Well-recognized for modulating eukaryotic spliceosome activity, pladienolides belong to a select group of polyketide natural products that have been a focus of recent synthetic and bioactivity studies. However, our understanding of their biosynthesis is still limited…

Nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) are a large class of secondary metabolites which have found extensive use as therapeutics including cyclosporine, daptomycin, and vancomycin…

Carrier protein-dependent biosynthetic pathways produce a diverse range of primary and secondary metabolites, many of which manifest in our daily lives as therapeutics and antibiotics…

Non-ribosomal peptide and polyketide synthases are complex biosynthetic pathways responsible for producing essential therapeutics, typically consisting of large multi-domain proteins or megasynthetases …

This work focuses on developing renewable and biodegradable thermoplastic polyester polyurethane (TPU) using microalgae as the sole feedstock for monomer synthesis…

Flow chemistry is reported as a method to perform continuous ozonolysis and subsequent oxidation to generate diacids from an algae-based, long-chain fatty acid…

In a world brimming with mystical creatures and enchanting wonders, pollution reigns as the unending production of nonrenewable materials persists unchecked…

Outside of their involvement in energy production, mitochondria play a critical role in cells through their access to a discrete fatty acid biosynthetic pathway…

The development of sustainable and renewable materials is crucial for reducing our reliance on petroleum resources and mitigating the environmental impact of industrial production…

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are a powerful heterobifunctional molecule that can be used to degrade different types of protein using the cells' natural ubiquitination systems. This project studies the use of metal-binding small molecules to develop and screen PROTAC molecules…

In response to escalating environmental concerns, there is a pressing demand for materials capable of delivering both sustainability and robust mechanical properties, thereby substituting nonrenewable counterparts in various applications…

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs), also known as ice-binding proteins (IBPs), are present in various organisms, including fish, insects, and plants…

Plastic pollution is one of the largest concerns of the 21st century, and conventional recycling methods are ineffective and contribute to the production of carbon emissions and microplastics…

Sphingolipids are critical components of the cell membrane that function as signaling molecules in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and stress response…