Catherine Drennan

Catherine Drennan is a Professor of Biology and Chemistry at MIT and an Investigator/Professor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). She leads the Drennan Research Laboratory, focusing on structural and biochemical studies of metalloenzymes involved in medically and environmentally significant processes. Her work combines X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to investigate enzyme mechanisms and conformational changes in catalysis.

Education

• PhD in Chemistry, University of Michigan (1995)
• BS in Chemistry, Vassar College (1985)

Research Interests

Her lab explores metalloprotein biochemistry, particularly in enzymes critical for environmental remediation and human health. Key areas include:

• Structure-function relationships in ribonucleotide reductases
• Mechanisms of glycyl radical enzymes
• Role of metal cofactors (iron, nickel) in catalysis
• Impact of conformational dynamics on enzyme activity

Recent Trends in Publications

Recent work highlights advances in cryo-EM structural analysis of ribonucleotide reductases and carbon monoxide dehydrogenases, revealing insights into enzyme regulation and inhibitor mechanisms. Studies also address the role of metallochaperones in cofactor insertion and the structural basis of enzymatic reactions like indole nitrile formation.

Awards

• Member, National Academy of Sciences (2023)
• Fellow, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2021)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2008)

Grants & Advising

Her research is supported by HHMI and NIH grants. She mentors students/postdocs in structural biology and enzyme mechanisms, emphasizing both experimental and computational approaches.

Labs & Collaborations

The Drennan Lab collaborates with institutions globally, focusing on advancing structural biology techniques and applying them to unresolved enzymatic mechanisms. The lab also develops educational resources for undergraduate science teaching.