Abstract 1555 Nitrogen-Nitrogen Bond Formation: New Enzymes and New Molecules

Natural products are specialized metabolites produced with niche-specific distributions. These molecules have functions as signalling molecules, antifungals, siderophores, or UV-protective agents, among other functions. Some natural products contain unusual functional groups that are rarely found elsewhere. My group is interested those natural products with unusual functional groups, with a specific focus on nitrogen-containing functional groups. We use genomics, microbial engineering, chemistry, and structural biology to elucidate biosynthetic pathways in order to understand how these molecules are assembled. Sometimes we discover unusual biosynthetic enzymes that are critical to the assembly of the unusual functional group, and these enzymes can be the starting point for new biocatalysts. Furthermore, we use the biosynthetic discoveries as a starting point for targeted isolation of new natural products that have the same functional groups. In this talk, I will discuss my group's efforts to discover novel biosynthetic enzymes and new natural products, with a focus on nitrogen-nitrogen (N-N)-bond formation. I am grateful for funding to my program from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.