Markus W. Ribbe

Markus W. Ribbe is the Chancellor’s Professor of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on metalloprotein assembly, catalysis, and bioinorganic mechanisms, particularly nitrogenase systems and Fe-S cluster biosynthesis. He leads the Ribbe-Hu Laboratory, collaborating with institutions like Shane Gonen’s lab. Notable achievements include heterologous nitrogenase expression in E. coli and elucidating belt-sulfur roles in nitrogenase catalysis. Key publications address nitrogen fixation mechanisms and Fe-S cluster regulation. Students advised include Joe Rebelein (award recipient) and Lee Rettberg.

• Departments: Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Chemistry
• Lab Collaborations: Yilin Hu (co-leader), Shane Gonen (Cryo-EM projects)
• Recent Recognitions: Student awards for Joe Rebelein and Bryan Neumann (collaborator)

Research integrates structural biology, spectroscopy, and microbiology to study enzyme function under anaerobic conditions, with applications in bioenergy and biomedicine.