Lantibiotics are bacterial-derived polycyclic antimicrobial peptides. They are genetically encoded and ribosomally synthesized as precursor peptides containing a structural region that undergoes post-translational modification ...

Lipids play crucial roles in maintaining cellular structure and energy storage. Structural lipids in the form of phospholipids constitute almost 10% of the dry cell weight in bacteria with their synthesis requiring 32 moles ...

All nucleated cells display a sampling of their protein contents in the form of short 9-10 amino acid peptides bound to a product of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the cell surface. This class of MHC-restricted ...

The ribosome translates genomic information into structural and catalytic protein molecules. In addition to its role in protein synthesis, the ribosome also produces small non-catalytic peptides that exert antimicrobial ...

In the current post-genomic world, the exponential amassing of protein sequences is overwhelming the scientific community’s ability to experimentally assign each protein’s function. The use of automated, homology-based ...

Described herein is my thesis work towards structural and biochemical characterization of bacterial proteins involved in metabolite regulation and natural product biosynthesis. In the first case, I will describe the ...

Lanthipeptides are natural products that belong to the family of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs). They contain the characteristic lanthionine (Lan) or methyllanthionine (MeLan) ...

Genomic era begins with development of sequencing methods. Genome sequencing is now cost-effective and fast, giving rise to increasing amounts of genomic data. However, the function of 1% of the deposited sequences have ...

Nonribosomal peptides are an important class of natural products including the life-saving antibiotics penicillin and vancomycin and the deadly microcystins and cereulide. This important category of natural products is ...

Natural products are chemical compounds that are synthesized by living organisms and have biological and pharmacological functions. Many natural products or their derivatives have been successfully developed as pharmaceuticals ...