معرفی
Katherine S. Ryan is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on understanding the biosynthesis of natural products, particularly enzymes involved in constructing complex molecules from simple precursors. She employs structural biology, protein engineering, and genomic analysis to elucidate mechanisms of biosynthetic pathways.
Education:
- Postdoc (2000s): Merck-sponsored LSRF Fellow at the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (advisor: Bradley Moore)
- PhD (2000s): HHMI Predoctoral Fellowship and Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry and Macromolecular Structure at MIT (advisor: Catherine Drennan)
- B.S. (Honors) in Biological Chemistry from the University of Chicago
Research Interests: Ryan’s lab investigates how enzymes enable bacteria and fungi to produce bioactive natural products. Key areas include heme-dependent nitrogen bond formation, pyridoxal phosphate-dependent reactions, and the engineering of biosynthetic pathways. Her work leverages X-ray crystallography to study enzyme structures and mechanisms. Recent studies focus on antibiotics like negamycin and reductasporine, as well as pathways involving piperazic acid and glycine-derived nitronates.
Lab Activities: The lab is located at UBC’s chemistry department, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Current openings include postdoctoral positions requiring expertise in X-ray crystallography and bacterial genetics. The team collaborates on projects funded by grants in microbial biosynthesis and structural biology.
