Reactions carried out by enzymes occur at comparatively low temperatures, usually at near-neutral pH in an aqueous environment, typically with 100% yields and 100% ee's. Enzymes almost never make undesired side products, which can be attributed to an amazing level of control over the desired reaction.

Our research asks quantitative questions about enzymes and metabolic pathways, in hopes we will learn how enzymes perform difficult chemical transformations and respond to hostile environments. Enzymes that use transition metals as cofactors are of special interest.

While the projects focus on enzyme mechanism and regulation in cells, experimental approaches are drawn from diverse areas of chemistry and molecular biology. The projects afford many opportunities for collaborative work. All projects touch upon issues related to bacterial infection, drawing on the wealth of new protein structural and sequence data available.