Event

Abstract: Terpenoids are the largest and most structurally diverse family of natural products and are a rich reservoir of pharmaceuticals, vitamins, flavors, fragrances, and biofuels. There are over 100,000 known terpenoids but less than 2% of these (≅1500) are of bacterial origin. Genomics, however, supports vast untapped biosynthetic potential for terpenoids in bacteria. Here, I will summarize some of our recent, unpublished work on genome mining for bacterial terpenoids and the enzymes that create these structurally complex small molecules. This will be highlighted by the discovery of novel terpene skeletons, mechanistic investigation via isotope labeling, mutagenesis, and computational chemistry revealing how these hydrocarbon frameworks are formed by terpene synthases.

Inquiries: nguyeny@sas.upenn.edu

Location: Carolyn Hoff Lynch Lecture Hall