Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Biological catalysts are essential for life. They enable the reactions that occur in living cells to occur at rates that can sustain life. For example, RNA is a molecule found in all living cells that translates the genetic code carried by DNA and translates it into proteins, the work molcules of cells. By itself in solution, it will take aaround 100 years to break. However, some biological catalysts can speed this reaction such that it occurs at the rate of several hundred times a minute! In our research we are interested in two main types of enzymes - nitric oxide synthases and methionine sulfoxide reductases. The former ones catalyse the synthesis of the important messenger molecule NO, which is now known to play key roles in a range of physiological processes including blood pressure regulation and embryo development. The second class of enzymes are responsible for repairing oxidative dame to key residues in a range of enzymes. In fact, it has been shown that they can lengthen life-spans and increase the physical activity of fruit flies! However, for both of these enyzmes we do not yet know how they work. Our research investigates their chemistry and catalytic mechanisms. This knowledge could not only increase our scientific knowledge, but also lead to the design of new therapeutic drugs.